Intramedullary implant, system, and method for inserting an implant into a bone
View Patent ↗An intramedullary implant, system, and method for placement within a bone system are provided by the invention. The implant includes a body with at least one pair of beams arranged about a longitudinal axis of the body. The beams are each fixed to the body and each have an end. The end of one of the beams of a pair is releasably coupled to the other beam of the pair. The beams are each deflectable between (i) a coupled and biased position for insertion of the beams into a respective bone, and (ii) an uncoupled position for gripping bone. The beams of each pair in the uncoupled position being arranged so as to compressively engage the bone.
1. An intramedullary implant comprising:
a body from each opposite end of which project a respective pair of beams arranged about a longitudinal axis of said body, each beam in each respective pair of beams being fixed to said body and having a coupling latch with a bore so that the coupling latch of one of said beams of each respective pair of beams may be releasably coupled to the other beam of the respective pair of beams by a removable coupling rod such that each beam of each respective pair of beams is movable between (i) a coupled and biased position wherein said coupling rod is located in each bore of each latch so that said implant may be inserted into a respective bone and (ii) an uncoupled position for internally gripping the respective bone, the beams of each respective pair of beams in the uncoupled position diverging away from said longitudinal axis of said body, wherein an outer surface of each beam of each respective pair of beams is adapted to form a compressive engagement with the respective bone when disposed in said uncoupled position.
2. An intramedullary implant according to claim 1 wherein said body defines a through-bore along said longitudinal axis.
3. An intramedullary implant according to claim 1 wherein said body defines a channel along an outer surface generally parallel to said longitudinal axis.
4. An intramedullary implant according to claim 2 or 3 wherein said beams of each respective pair of beams are arranged in diagonally spaced relation to one another on said body.
5. An intramedullary implant according to claim 2 or 3 wherein said beams of each respective pair of beams are arranged asymmetrically about said longitudinal axis of said body.
6. An intramedullary implant according to claim 1 wherein each beam of each respective pair of beams deflects inwardly toward said longitudinal axis when coupled and biased for insertion into a respective bone.
7. An intramedullary implant according to claim 1 wherein said beams of each respective pair of beams are arranged symmetrically about said longitudinal axis of said body.
8. An intramedullary implant according to claim 1 wherein said body is configured to connect to a therapeutic device for insertion of said connected body and therapeutic device into said respective bone.
9. An intramedullary implant system comprising:
a k-wire; and
a body having a first end and a second end opposite the first end wherein at least one of the first and second ends project a pair of beams arranged about a longitudinal axis of said body, each beam of the pair of beams being fixed to said body and having a coupling latch with a bore so that the coupling latch of one of said beams of the pair of beams may be releasably coupled to the other beam of the pair of beams by said k-wire such that each beam of said pair of beams is movable between (i) a coupled and biased position, wherein said k-wire is located in each bore of each latch so that said implant may be inserted into a respective bone, and (ii) an uncoupled position wherein said k-wire is removed from each bore of each latch so that each beam of the pair of beams diverges away from said longitudinal axis of said body, wherein an outer surface of each beam of the pair of beams is adapted to form a compressive engagement with the respective bone when disposed in said uncoupled position.
10. A method for implanting a device within a bone according to claim 9 wherein said k-wire is reinserted into said passageway of said body.
11. A method for implanting a device within a bone comprising:
(a) opening and debriding a target bone system;
(b) forming a canal through said target bone system;
(c) providing a k-wire and an implant comprising a body from opposite ends of which project at least one pair of beams arranged about a longitudinal axis of said body wherein said body defines a passageway along said longitudinal axis, each beam of said pair of beams being fixed to said body and having a coupling latch with a bore;
(d) releasably coupling said latch of each beam of said pair of beams by inserting said k-wire into said latch bores thereby biasing said beams of said pair of beams;
(e) inserting said implant and k-wire into said canal;
(d) decoupling and removing said k-wire from said latches thereby decoupling and releasing said beams of said pair of beams from their biased state so that a portion of each beam of said pair of beams engages the surface of the surrounding bone that defines said canal.