Bone stabilization device and method

1. A bone stabilization device for insertion into the intramedullary canal of a bone, the device comprising:

an elongated body having a first end, a second end, and a longitudinal axis extending between the first and second ends, the body including a polymer with a glass transition temperature greater than 37 degrees Celsius, wherein the polymer is relatively deformable at a temperature above the glass transition temperature and relatively rigid at a temperature below the glass transition temperature, the device, while the polymer is above the glass transition temperature, being responsive to a bending force to bend during insertion into the intramedullary canal of the bone, and the device, while the polymer is below the glass transition temperature, being relatively rigid and able to provide reinforcement to the bone;

the body comprising a composite structure including one or more reinforcing members embedded in a polymer matrix, the one or more reinforcing members including a woven or braided tubular member.

2. The bone stabilization device of claim 1 wherein the one or more reinforcing members includes a plurality of elongated members oriented parallel to the longitudinal axis.

3. The bone stabilization device of claim 1 wherein the polymer matrix and one or more reinforcing members are made of different materials.

4. The bone stabilization device of claim 1 wherein the one or more reinforcing members includes an energy receptor to which energy may be transmitted to increase the temperature of the polymer matrix.

5. The bone stabilization device of claim 1 wherein the body includes a first portion adjacent the first end, a second portion adjacent the second end, and an intermediate portion intermediate the first and second ends, the intermediate portion including a polymer with a glass transition temperature above 37 degrees Celsius, at least one of the first and second end portions having a construction different from the intermediate portion.

6. A bone stabilization device for insertion into the intramedullary canal of a bone, the device comprising:

an elongated body having a first end, a second end, and a longitudinal axis extending between the first and second ends, the body including a polymer with a glass transition temperature greater than 37 degrees Celsius, wherein the polymer is relatively deformable at a temperature above the glass transition temperature and relatively rigid at a temperature below the glass transition temperature, the device, while the polymer is above the glass transition temperature, being responsive to a bending force to bend during insertion into the intramedullary canal of the bone, and the device, while the polymer is below the glass transition temperature, being relatively rigid and able to provide reinforcement to the bone;

the body including a first portion adjacent the first end, a second portion adjacent the second end, and an intermediate portion intermediate the first and second ends, the intermediate portion including a polymer with a glass transition temperature above 37 degrees Celsius, at least one of the first and second end portions having a construction different from the intermediate portion;

wherein at least one of the first and second portions remains relatively rigid at a temperature at which the intermediate portion is relatively deformable.

7. The bone stabilization device of claim 6 wherein the first portion comprises a leading insertion portion and the second portion comprises a tool attachment portion.

8. The bone stabilization device of claim 7 wherein the tool attachment portion comprises a metal.

9. The bone stabilization device of claim 7 wherein the first and second portions comprise metal.

10. The bone stabilization device of claim 6 wherein the first and second portions are enlarged relative to the intermediate portion, imparting an hour glass shape to the device.

11. The bone stabilization device of claim 6 wherein at least a portion of the body is radially outwardly expandable to conform to the surrounding intramedullary canal while at a temperature above its glass transition temperature.

12. The bone stabilization device of claim 11 wherein the intermediate portion includes a non-expandable region operable to protect a portion of the bone from pressure in response to radial expansion of the body.

13. The bone stabilization device of claim 11 wherein the body is radially outwardly biased, the body being responsive to heating above the glass transition temperature of the polymer to expand radially outwardly.

14. The bone stabilization device of claim 6 further comprising a longitudinal passage for engaging a guidewire.

15. A method for inserting a bone stabilization device into the intramedullary canal of a bone, the bone stabilization device including an elongated body having a first end, a second end, and a longitudinal axis extending between the first and second ends, the body including a polymer with a glass transition temperature greater than 37 degrees Celsius, wherein the polymer is relatively deformable at a temperature above the glass transition temperature and relatively rigid at a temperature below the glass transition temperature, the device, while the polymer is heated above the glass transition temperature, being responsive to a bending force to bend during insertion into the intramedullary canal of the bone, and the device, while the polymer is cooled below the glass transition temperature, being relatively rigid and able to provide reinforcement to the bone sufficient to promote healing of the fractured bone, the method comprising:

heating the polymer above the glass transition temperature so that the polymer is relatively deformable;

inserting the bone stabilization device into the intramedullary canal of the bone; and

cooling the polymer below the glass transition temperature so that the polymer is relatively rigid and able to provide reinforcement to the bone, wherein cooling the polymer comprises actively cooling the polymer by removing heat from the polymer via a heat removal apparatus.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein inserting the bone stabilization device into the intramedullary canal of the bone comprises inserting the device through a delivery tube.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein inserting the bone stabilization device into the intramedullary canal of the bone comprises inserting the device over a guidewire.

18. A method for removing a bone stabilization device from the intramedullary canal of a bone, the bone stabilization device including an elongated body having a first end, a second end, and a longitudinal axis extending between the first and second ends, the body including a polymer with a glass transition temperature greater than 37 degrees Celsius, wherein the polymer is relatively deformable at a temperature above the glass transition temperature and relatively rigid at a temperature below the glass transition temperature, the device, while the polymer is heated above the glass transition temperature, being responsive to a bending force to bend during insertion into the intramedullary canal of the bone, and the device, while the polymer is cooled below the glass transition temperature, being relatively rigid and able to provide reinforcement to the bone sufficient to promote healing of the fractured bone, the method comprising:

heating the polymer above the glass transition temperature so that the polymer is relatively deformable; and

removing the bone stabilization device from the intramedullary canal of the bone.