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 bone 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 bone reinforcing mixture contained in the balloon when the balloon is in a cavity of the bone;
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; and
a device engaging the balloon containing the cured bone reinforcing mixture.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the device provides support for compression and torsion of the balloon in the cavity of the bone.
3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the device is a screw.
4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the device is a plate.
5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the device is a pin.
6. The system of claim 1 , wherein inflation of the balloon within the cavity of the bone provides for an even dispersion of radial force.
7. The system of claim 1 , wherein an outer surface of the balloon is preformed to be contained within the cavity of the fractured bone or the weakened bone.
8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the balloon comprises a plurality of layers.
9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the balloon has an outer surface that is substantially smooth.
10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the balloon has an outer surface that is textured.
11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the balloon has an outer surface that includes ribs, ridges, or bumps.
12. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a light source that provides ultraviolet light or visible light to the catheter.
13. The system of claim 1 , further comprising an outer balloon surrounding the balloon.
14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the outer balloon has a different durometer than the balloon.
15. The system of claim 13 , wherein the outer balloon is softer than the balloon.
16. The system of claim 1 , further comprising an illumination band located at a junction between the catheter and the balloon.
17. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a separation area on the distal end of the catheter to separate the catheter from the balloon.
18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the separation area is an illumination band.
19. The system of claim 18 , wherein the illumination band, when activated, causes light to cure the bone reinforcing material located in the catheter within the illumination band.
20. The system of claim 1 , wherein an illumination band extends around the catheter and includes a stress concentrator for separating the balloon from the catheter.
21. The system of claim 20 , wherein the stress concentrator is from the group consisting of a notch, a groove, a score, an indented portion, a pre-weakened portion, a pre-stressed portion and a channel.
22. The system of claim 1 , wherein the bone is 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.
23. A system for delivering a bone reinforcing mixture to a fractured bone 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, 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;
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; and
a bone screw that is screwed into the balloon containing the cured bone reinforcing mixture.
24. The system of claim 23 , wherein an outer surface of the balloon is preformed to be contained within the cavity of the fractured bone or the weakened bone.
25. The system of claim 23 , further comprising an outer balloon surrounding the balloon.
26. The system of claim 23 , wherein the bone 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.
27. A system for delivering a bone reinforcing mixture to a fractured bone 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, 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;
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; and
a plate engaging the balloon containing the cured bone reinforcing mixture.
28. The system of claim 27 , wherein the plate is screwed into the balloon containing the cured bone reinforcing mixture.
29. The system of claim 27 , further comprising a screw that is screwed into the balloon to connect the plate to the balloon.
30. The system of claim 27 , further comprising an outer balloon surrounding the balloon.
31. The system of claim 27 , wherein an outer surface of the balloon is preformed to be contained within the cavity of the fractured bone or the weakened bone.
32. The system of claim 27 , wherein the bone is 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.
33. A method for reinforcing a bone comprising:
penetrating the bone to gain access to a cavity in the bone;
inserting a balloon into the cavity in the bone;
introducing a bone reinforcing mixture into the balloon through at least one lumen of a catheter connected to the balloon;
activating a light source connected to at least one light guide extending through the catheter into the balloon to illuminate and harden the bone reinforcing mixture contained in the balloon; and
screwing a device into the balloon containing the hardened reinforcing mixture.
34. The method of claim 33 , wherein the device provides support for compression and torsion of the balloon.
35. The method of claim 33 , wherein the device is a screw.
36. The method of claim 33 , wherein the device is a plate.
37. The method of claim 33 , wherein the device is a pin.
38. The method of claim 33 , wherein the bone is 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.