Lagwire system and method for the fixation of bone fractures

Abstract

A lagwire system and method for facilitating the fixation of bone fractures is disclosed. The lagwire system includes an anchor component, a wire, a sleeve and a cap. The sleeve and cap are operable to slide along the length of the wire and also operable to be used to fixate a fracture individually by using a canal prepared by the anchor and wire.

We claim: 
     
         1 . An implant device comprising:
 a wire having a first end and a second end,
 wherein the second end of the wire is configured to be cut to a particular length; 
   an anchor attached to the first end of the wire,
 wherein the anchor is configured to be fixedly attached to a first bone portion, 
 wherein the anchor includes anchor threads; 
   a cap attached to the second end of the wire; and   a flexible sleeve having a first sleeve end and a second sleeve end,
 wherein the flexible sleeve is configured to slide longitudinally over the wire such that the wire is reciprocally received by the flexible sleeve, after the anchor is fixedly attached to the first bone portion, 
 wherein the flexible sleeve is configured to be inserted into a bone canal that spans across a fracture between the first bone portion and a second bone portion, 
 wherein the anchor is configured to receive the first sleeve end, such that the anchor threads and outer threads on the first sleeve are contiguous, and 
 wherein threads on the cap and the outer threads on the second sleeve end are continguous. 
   
     
     
         2 . The implant device of  claim 1 , wherein the anchor includes tapered threads behind cutting threads, such that the tapered threads are configured to cut into the first sleeve end to secure the first sleeve end to the anchor. 
     
     
         3 . The implant device of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible sleeve is configured to be cut to a particular length, after the anchor is fixedly attached to the first bone portion. 
     
     
         4 . The implant device of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible sleeve is configured to bend while inside the bone canal in any radial direction relative to its centerline into a curved configuration. 
     
     
         5 . The implant device of  claim 1 , wherein the outer thread of the sleeve is configured to be threaded into at least a portion of the bone canal and provide friction against at least a portion of the bone canal. 
     
     
         6 . The implant device of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible sleeve is configured to engage the anchor to fixedly attach the flexible sleeve to the anchor, after the anchor is fixedly attached to a first bone portion. 
     
     
         7 . The implant device of  claim 1 , wherein the anchor includes external anchor threads. 
     
     
         8 . The implant device of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible sleeve at least partially includes at least one of shape memory material, plastic, polyetherketone (PEEK), steel, titanium or titanium alloy. 
     
     
         9 . The implant device of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible sleeve is configured to allow treatment to be delivered through a center of the flexible sleeve, wherein the treatment includes at least one of a medication, an adhesive, an ultrasonic vibration, or a bonding material. 
     
     
         10 . The implant device of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible sleeve abuts the anchor creating contiguous outside threads along the anchor and the flexible sleeve. 
     
     
         11 . The implant device of  claim 1 , wherein the first coiled fiber and the second coiled fiber are interwoven such that the first coiled fiber engages outside the second coiled fiber, wherein each coil of the first coiled fiber functions as a thread and each coil of the second coiled fiber separates each of the coils of the first coiled fiber. 
     
     
         12 . The implant device of  claim 1 , wherein the cap includes internal threads which mate with the external threads of the flexible sleeve, wherein the cap further comprises a threaded external distal portion which mates with the first bone portion as a screw interface, and wherein the cap is configured to receive the flexible sleeve such that the cap is configured to slide distally along a length of the flexible sleeve, wherein the cap is configured to engage the flexible sleeve such that the sleeve is at least partially restricted from moving distally relative to the cap. 
     
     
         13 . The implant device of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible sleeve further comprises a proximal end that is hexagonal in shape and configured to receive a hexagonal driver. 
     
     
         14 . The implant device of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible sleeve is configured to receive a force in a proximal direction and be placed in tension to force the first bone portion towards the second bone portion. 
     
     
         15 . The implant device of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible sleeve is comprised of an interwoven first coiled fiber and second coiled fiber. 
     
     
         16 . The implant device of  claim 1 , wherein a proximal portion of the bone canal is larger such that the flexible sleeve does not engage the proximal portion of the bone canal. 
     
     
         17 . The implant device of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible sleeve is cannulated. 
     
     
         18 . The implant device of  claim 1 , wherein posts engage the flexible sleeve from a perpendicular direction. 
     
     
         19 . A method for treating a fracture of a bone, the method comprising:
 inserting a lagwire system into the bone,
 wherein the lagwire system comprises an anchor and a wire; 
 wherein the wire has a first end and a second end, 
 wherein the anchor is attached to the first end of the wire, 
 wherein the anchor includes anchor threads; 
 wherein a cap is attached to the second end of the wire; 
   cutting the second end of the wire to a particular length;   fixedly attaching the anchor to a first bone portion;   sliding a flexible sleeve longitudinally over the wire such that the wire is reciprocally received by the flexible sleeve, after the anchor is fixedly attached to the first bone portion,
 wherein the flexible sleeve has a first sleeve end and a second sleeve end, 
   inserting the flexible sleeve into a bone canal that spans across the fracture between the first bone portion and a second bone portion;   threading the outer thread of the sleeve into at least a portion of the bone canal and providing friction against at least a portion of the bone canal;   engaging the flexible sleeve to the anchor to fixedly attach the flexible sleeve to the anchor, after the anchor is fixedly attached to a first bone portion;
 wherein the anchor is configured to receive the first sleeve end, such that the anchor threads and the outer threads are contiguous, and 
 wherein threads on the cap and the outer threads on the second sleeve end are continguous. 
   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the anchor includes tapered threads behind cutting threads, such that the tapered threads are configured to cut into the first sleeve end to secure the first sleeve end to the anchor.