Resorption-controlled compression devices and processes for making and using the same

1. A medical device comprising:

a compression element;

a first anchor for attachment to a first bone fragment;

a second anchor coupled to the first anchor via the compression element, the second anchor for attachment to a second bone fragment;

the compression element comprising nitinol and attached to the first anchor and the second anchor, the compression element being deformed to a deformed position; and

a resorbable element holding the compression element in the deformed position, wherein:

the resorbable element comprises a material, size, and shape such that the resorbable element resorbs in a predetermined amount of time after insertion into a patient; and

after the predetermined amount of time following insertion into the patient, the resorbable element is resorbed and the compression element moves from the deformed position to a non-deformed position, thereby compressing the first bone fragment and the second bone fragment;

wherein the shape of the resorbable element is a sleeve-like shape.

2. The medical device of claim 1 , wherein the predetermined amount of time comprises about 2-8 weeks.

3. The medical device of claim 1 , wherein the first anchor comprises screw threads.

4. The medical device of claim 3 , wherein the resorbable element comprises one or more of the following materials:

DL-lactide and Glycolide with a 50/50 molar ratio;

L-lactide and Glycolide with a 10/90 molar ratio of L-lactide to Glycolide;

poly alpha hydroxy esters;

poly beta amino esters; poly anhydrides, poly dioxanone (PDO);

biodegradable iron (Fe); and/or

biodegradable magnesium (Mg).

5. A medical device comprising:

a compression element;

a first anchor for attachment to a first bone fragment;

a second anchor coupled to the first anchor via the compression element, the second anchor for attachment to a second bone fragment;

the compression element being between the first anchor and the second anchor; and

a resorbable element maintaining the first anchor and the second anchor at a first distance, wherein:

the resorbable element is configured to at least partially resorb after insertion into a patient; and

after the resorbable element is at least partially resorbed, the compression element forces the first anchor and/or the second anchor to translate such that the first anchor and the second anchor are at a second distance, thereby compressing the first bone fragment and the second bone fragment;

wherein the shape of the resorbable element is a sleeve-like shape.

6. The medical device of claim 5 , wherein the resorbable element comprises one or more materials from the group comprising: DL-lactide and Glycolide with a 50/50 molar ratio, L-lactide and Glycolide with a 10/90 molar ratio of L-lactide to Glycolide, poly alpha hydroxy esters, poly beta amino esters, poly anhydrides, poly dioxanone (PDO), biodegradable iron (Fe), and biodegradable magnesium (Mg).

7. The medical device of claim 5 , wherein:

the medical device comprises a midpoint between the first anchor and the second anchor; and

after the resorbable element is at least partially resorbed, the compression element forces the first anchor and/or the second anchor to translate toward the midpoint.

8. The medical device of claim 7 , wherein the resorbable element is between the first anchor and the second anchor.

9. The medical device of claim 5 , wherein the compression element passes through the resorbable element.

10. The medical device of claim 5 , wherein the medical device is a screw.

11. The medical device of claim 5 , wherein the medical device is an intramedullary nail.

12. A method comprising:

coupling a first anchor of a medical device to a first bone fragment within a patient;

coupling a second anchor of the medical device to a second bone fragment within the patient; and

positioning the first bone fragment adjacent to the second bone fragment in a first position, wherein the positioning comprises the steps of:

coupling the first anchor to the second anchor by a compression element;

holding the first anchor and the second anchor in a fixed position via a resorbable element comprising a sleeve-like shape; and

upon at least partial resorption of the resorbable element, the first anchor and/or the second anchor translate toward a midpoint of the medical device via the compression element, thereby moving the first bone fragment and the second bone fragment to a second position and compressing the first bone fragment and the second bone fragment.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein in the first position, the first bone fragment and the second bone fragment are uncompressed.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein in the first position, the first bone fragment and/or the second bone fragment experience micro-motion.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the resorbable element comprises one or more materials from the group comprising: DL-lactide and Glycolide with a 50/50 molar ratio, L-lactide and Glycolide with a 10/90 molar ratio of L-lactide to Glycolide, poly alpha hydroxy esters, poly beta amino esters, poly anhydrides, poly dioxanone (PDO), biodegradable iron (Fe), and biodegradable magnesium (Mg).

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the resorbable element is between the first anchor and the second anchor.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the compression element comprises nitinol.