Apparatus for delivery of reinforcing materials to bone
An apparatus and methods for delivery of reinforcing materials to a weakened or fractured bone is disclosed. An apparatus for delivering a reinforcing mixture to a bone including a tube having a proximal end, a distal end, and a longitudinal axis therebetween, wherein the tube has at least one inner lumen capable of allowing a bone reinforcing mixture to pass therethrough; a balloon engaging the tube wherein the balloon expands from a substantially deflated state to a substantially inflated state upon the bone reinforcing mixture entering the balloon; and at least one light guide extending through the tube into the balloon to guide a light into the balloon.
1. A system for delivering a bone reinforcing mixture to a fractured or a weakened bone comprising:
a catheter having a proximal end, a distal end, and a longitudinal axis therebetween, wherein the catheter has at least one inner lumen for passing a bone reinforcing mixture therethrough;
a balloon engaging the distal end of the catheter;
a radial structural member engaging the balloon;
a bone reinforcing mixture contained in the balloon, wherein the balloon expands from a substantially deflated state to a substantially inflated state upon the bone reinforcing mixture entering the balloon; and
at least one light guide extending through the catheter into the balloon to guide a light into the balloon to illuminate and cure the bone reinforcing mixture contained in the balloon.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the radial structural member engages the balloon on an outer surface of the balloon.
3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the balloon and the radial structural member expand when the bone reinforcing mixture enters into the balloon.
4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the radial structural member extends beyond a distal end of the balloon.
5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the radial structural member extends beyond a distal end and a proximal end of the balloon.
6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the radial structural member is an expandable mesh.
7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the radial structural member is a wire coil.
8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the radial structural member is a slotted tube.
9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the radial structural member includes a zigzag design.
10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the radial structural member is a stent.
11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the stent comprises a plurality of vanes that open perpendicular to an outer diameter of the stent when the stent is in an expanded state.
12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of vanes lie flat along an outer surface of the balloon when the stent is in a compressed state.
13. The system of claim 1 , wherein the radial structural member is expandable within the balloon.
14. The system of claim 1 , wherein the radial structural member engages the balloon on an inner surface of the balloon.
15. The system of claim 1 , wherein inflation of the balloon within a cavity of the bone provides for an even dispersion of radial force.
16. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a separation area on the distal end of the catheter to separate the catheter from the balloon.
17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the separation area is an illumination band configured to illuminate and cure the bone reinforcing material located in the catheter within the illumination band.
18. The system of claim 1 , wherein the bone is selected from the group consisting of a radius, an ulna, a clavicle, a metacarpal, a phalanx, a metatarsal, a phalange, a tibia, a fibula, a humerus, a spine, a rib and a vertebra.
19. A system for delivering a bone reinforcing mixture to a fractured or a weakened bone comprising:
a catheter having a proximal end, a distal end, and a longitudinal axis therebetween, wherein the catheter has at least one inner lumen for passing a bone reinforcing mixture therethrough;
a balloon engaging the distal end of the catheter;
an expandable tube surrounding the balloon;
a bone reinforcing mixture is contained in the balloon when the balloon is in a cavity of the bone; and
at least one light guide extending through the catheter into the balloon to guide a light into the balloon to illuminate and harden the bone reinforcing mixture contained in the balloon.
20. The system of claim 19 , wherein the expandable tube surrounds a portion of the balloon.
21. The system of claim 19 , wherein the expandable tube encapsulates the balloon.
22. The system of claim 19 , wherein the tube includes a metal.
23. The system of claim 19 , wherein the tube extends beyond an area of a fracture when in the cavity of the bone.
24. The system of claim 19 , wherein the tube comprises pre-formed sections.
25. The system of claim 19 , wherein the tube comprises four or more pre-formed sections.
26. The system of claim 19 , wherein an outer surface of the tube includes ridges or serrations.
27. The system of claim 19 , wherein the tube extends beyond a distal end of the balloon.
28. The system of claim 19 , wherein the tube extends beyond a distal end and a proximal end of the balloon.
29. The system of claim 19 , wherein the bone is selected from the group consisting of a radius, an ulna, a clavicle, a metacarpal, a phalanx, a metatarsal, a phalange, a tibia, a fibula, a humerus, a spine, a rib and a vertebra.
30. A system for delivering a bone reinforcing mixture to a fractured or a weakened bone comprising:
a catheter having a proximal end, a distal end, and a longitudinal axis therebetween, wherein the catheter has at least one inner lumen for passing a bone reinforcing mixture therethrough;
a balloon engaging the distal end of the catheter;
a radial structural member engaging the balloon, the radial structural member comprising a plurality of plates;
a bone reinforcing mixture contained in the balloon, wherein the balloon expands from a substantially deflated state to a substantially inflated state upon the bone reinforcing mixture entering the balloon when the balloon is in a cavity of the bone; and
at least one light guide extending through the catheter into the balloon to guide a light into the balloon to illuminate and cure the bone reinforcing mixture contained in the balloon.
31. The system of claim 30 , wherein at least one plate of the plurality of plates is connected to at least one wire.
32. The system of claim 31 , wherein the at least one wire engaging adjacent plates.
33. The system of claim 32 , further comprising at least one hinge engaging the at least one wire attached to the plates.
34. The system of claim 30 , wherein the plurality of plates lie along the circumference and an outer surface of the balloon prior to inflation of the balloon.
35. The system of claim 30 , wherein the plurality of plates are adjacent to and abut each other.
36. The system of claim 30 , wherein the plurality of plates overlap each other.
37. The system of claim 36 , wherein the overlapping plates form a rigid structure.
38. The system of claim 30 , wherein the radial structural member expands as the balloon expands such that the plurality of plates move outward and away from each other.
39. The system of claim 30 , wherein the bone is selected from the group consisting of a radius, an ulna, a clavicle, a metacarpal, a phalanx, a metatarsal, a phalange, a tibia, a fibula, a humerus, a spine, a rib and a vertebra.
40. The system of claim 30 , wherein a lower portion of at least one plate located approximate to a catheter wall of the catheter engages a first wire and is configured to contract, and an upper portion of the at least one plate engages a second wire that is configured to expand.
41. A system for delivering a bone reinforcing mixture to a fractured or a weakened bone comprising:
a catheter having a proximal end, a distal end, and a longitudinal axis therebetween, wherein the catheter has at least one inner lumen for passing a bone reinforcing mixture therethrough;
a balloon engaging the distal end of the catheter;
an internal support structure engaging the balloon;
a bone reinforcing mixture contained in the balloon, wherein the balloon expands from a substantially deflated state to a substantially inflated state upon the bone reinforcing mixture entering the balloon when the balloon is in a cavity of the bone; and
at least one light guide extending through the catheter into the balloon to guide a light into the balloon to illuminate and cure the bone reinforcing mixture contained in the balloon.
42. The system of claim 41 , wherein the internal support structure engages an inner surface of the balloon.
43. The system of claim 41 , wherein the internal support structure comprises stiff fibers.
44. The system of claim 41 , wherein the internal support structure comprises an interlinked concentric ring of high modulus fiber.
45. The system of claim 41 , wherein the internal support structure comprises interconnected strut connectors engaging circumferential supports.
46. The system of claim 41 , wherein the bone is selected from the group consisting of a radius, an ulna, a clavicle, a metacarpal, a phalanx, a metatarsal, a phalange, a tibia, a fibula, a humerus, a spine, a rib and a vertebra.