Bone distraction devices and methods of using same

1. A subcutaneous bone distraction device ( 1 ) comprising:

a first block portion ( 3 ) including a pair of opposing rails ( 3 a ) and a pair of opposing ratchet sections ( 4 ); and

a second block portion ( 3 ′) that slidably mates with the first block portion ( 3 ) and includes a first locking pawl ( 5 ) and a push button expansion system ( 5 ′- 6 - 7 - 8 - 8 ′) for incrementally and slidably advancing the second block portion ( 3 ′) along the pair of opposing rails ( 3 a ) of the first block portion ( 3 ),

wherein the push button expansion system ( 5 ′- 6 - 7 - 8 - 8 ′) comprises an actuator ( 7 ) for receiving input from a user, a float ( 6 ) configured to transfer input from the actuator ( 7 ) into lateral motion, a second locking pawl ( 5 ′) associated with the float ( 6 ) and with the pair of opposing ratchet sections ( 4 ) of the first block portion ( 3 ), a first energy storage element ( 8 ) associated with the float ( 6 ) for returning the float ( 6 ) to an initial position of the float, and a second energy storage element ( 8 ′) for returning the actuator ( 7 ) to an initial position after lateral motion of the first block portion ( 3 ) relative to the second block ( 3 ′) has completed.

2. The subcutaneous bone distraction device ( 1 ) of claim 1 , wherein the first block portion ( 3 ) further comprises at least one anchor hole ( 20 ) disposed through a thickness of the first block portion ( 3 ) for anchoring the first block portion ( 3 ) with a first section of bone ( 2 ).

3. The subcutaneous bone distraction device ( 1 ) of claim 1 , wherein the second block portion ( 3 ′) further comprises at least one anchor hole ( 20 ) disposed through a thickness of the second block portion ( 3 ′) for anchoring the second block portion ( 3 ′) to a second section of bone ( 2 ′), wherein the second section of bone ( 2 ′) is separated from the first section of bone ( 2 ) by a gap.

4. The subcutaneous bone distraction device ( 1 ) of claim 1 , wherein each activation of the push button expansion system ( 5 ′- 6 - 7 - 8 - 8 ′) expands the second block portion ( 3 ′) along the pair of opposing rails ( 3 a ) by no more than about 0.25 mm.

5. The subcutaneous bone distraction device ( 1 ) of claim 1 , wherein each activation of the push button expansion system ( 5 ′- 6 - 7 - 8 - 8 ′) expands the second block portion ( 3 ′) along the pair of opposing rails ( 3 a ) by no more than about 0.2 mm.

6. The subcutaneous bone distraction device ( 1 ) of any claim 1 , wherein each activation of the push button expansion system ( 5 ′- 6 - 7 - 8 - 8 ′) expands the second block portion ( 3 ′) along the pair of opposing rails ( 3 a ) by no more than about 0.15 mm.

7. The subcutaneous bone distraction device ( 1 ) of claim 1 , wherein each activation of the push button expansion system ( 5 ′- 6 - 7 - 8 - 8 ′) expands the second block portion ( 3 ′) along the pair of opposing rails ( 3 a ) by no more than about 0.1 mm.

8. The subcutaneous bone distraction device ( 1 ) of claim 1 further comprising at least one sensor in wireless communication with a data receiving device ( 1000 ) and for determining an extent of callus growth between a first bone section ( 2 ) and a second bone section ( 2 ′).

9. The subcutaneous bone distraction device ( 1 ) of claim 8 , wherein the at least one sensor comprises a first vibration sensor ( 9 ) associated with the first locking pawl ( 5 ) and a second vibration sensor ( 9 ′) associated with the second locking pawl ( 5 ′).

10. The subcutaneous bone distraction device ( 1 ) of claim 8 , wherein the at least one sensor comprises a force sensor ( 10 ) associated with the first locking pawl ( 5 ).

11. The subcutaneous bone distraction device ( 1 ) of claim 8 , wherein the at least one sensor comprises a bone regeneration sensor ( 11 ) associated with the first block portion ( 3 ) or with the second block portion ( 3 ′) for determining an extent of callus growth.

12. The subcutaneous bone distraction device ( 1 ) of claim 11 , wherein the bone regeneration sensor ( 11 ) is a vibration sensor.

13. The subcutaneous bone distraction device ( 1 ) of claim 11 , wherein the bone regeneration sensor ( 11 ) is an acoustic emission sensor.

14. The subcutaneous bone distraction device ( 1 ) of claim 11 , wherein the bone regeneration sensor ( 11 ) is a dielectric sensor.

15. The subcutaneous bone distraction device ( 1 ) of claim 8 , wherein the at least one sensor comprises a plurality of bone regeneration sensors ( 12 ) associated with the first block portion ( 3 ) or with the second block portion ( 3 ′).

16. The subcutaneous bone distraction device ( 1 ) of claim 15 , wherein the plurality of bone regeneration sensors ( 12 ) are positioned along a length of the first block portion ( 3 ) or along a length of the second block portion ( 3 ′).

17. The subcutaneous bone distraction device ( 1 ) of claim 1 further comprising a protective membrane around the bone distraction device ( 1 ).