The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 13, 2015
Filed:
Sep. 28, 2009
Heber Saravia, Santa Rosa, CA (US);
Stephen R. Mcdaniel, Santa Rosa, CA (US);
Trung Ho Pham, Santa Rosa, CA (US);
Charles L. Nelson, Santa Rosa, CA (US);
Stephen Gunther, Santa Rosa, CA (US);
Heber Saravia, Santa Rosa, CA (US);
Stephen R. McDaniel, Santa Rosa, CA (US);
Trung Ho Pham, Santa Rosa, CA (US);
Charles L. Nelson, Santa Rosa, CA (US);
Stephen Gunther, Santa Rosa, CA (US);
Sonoma Orthopedic Products, Inc., Buffalo Grove, IL (US);
Abstract
A bone fixation device is provided with an elongate body having a longitudinal axis and having a first state in which at least a portion of the body is flexible and a second state in which the body is generally rigid, an actuateable gripper disposed at one or more locations on the elongated body, a hub located on a proximal end of the elongated body, and an actuator operably connected to the gripper(s) to deploy the gripper(s) from a retracted configuration to an expanded configuration. Methods of repairing a fracture of a bone are also disclosed. One such method comprises inserting a bone fixation device into an intramedullary space of the bone to place at least a portion of an elongate body of the fixation device in a flexible state on one side of the fracture and at least a portion of a hub on another side of the fracture, and operating an actuator to deploy at least one gripper of the fixation device to engage an inner surface of the intramedullary space to anchor the fixation device to the bone. Alternative gripper designs are disclosed that may be used in various combinations.