Kit for Implanting Heat Deformable Fixation Elements of Different Sizes

Abstract

A device for implanting heat deformable fixation elements of different sizes in a bone, comprises a hand piece extending from a proximal end to a distal end and including an internal optical waveguide connected to a laser source and open to the distal end of the hand piece and a light guiding tip extending from a proximal end to a distal end, the proximal end of the light guiding tip being removably mechanically and optically connectable to the distal end of the hand piece and the distal end of the light guiding tip being configured to permit removable attachment of a bone fixation element, the light guiding tip including an optical waveguide, wherein the light guiding tip is configured to control a total radiant energy Q transmitted from the laser source to the bone fixation element

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A deformable bone fixation element, comprising:
 a proximal end, and a distal end that is spaced from the proximal end along a distal direction, the distal end configured to be inserted into a bone; and   an outer surface that extends from the proximal end to the distal end,   wherein the bone fixation element consists entirely of at least one colored polymer that is configured to absorb electromagnetic radiation and convert the electromagnetic radiation to heat such that an entirety of the bone fixation element is configured to soften and deform in response to the electromagnetic radiation.   
     
     
         3 . The deformable bone fixation element of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one colored polymer contains of at least one colored substance that is configured to absorb the electromagnetic radiation. 
     
     
         4 . The deformable bone fixation element of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one colored substance is a chromophore pigment added to the at least one polymer to absorb the electromagnetic radiation and convert the electromagnetic radiation to heat. 
     
     
         5 . The deformable bone fixation element of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one colored polymer is self-colored. 
     
     
         6 . The deformable bone fixation element of  claim 2 , wherein the deformable bone fixation element is solid from the proximal end to the distal end. 
     
     
         7 . The deformable bone fixation element of  claim 2 , wherein the distal end of the deformable bone fixation element is pointed. 
     
     
         8 . The deformable bone fixation element of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one colored polymer includes at least one of chlorophyll, carbon black, graphite, fluorescein, methylene blue, indocyanine green, eosine; eosine Y (514 nm), ethyleosine (532 nm), acridine, acridine orange, copper phtalocyanine, chrome-cobalt-aluminum oxide, ferrous ammonium citrate, pyrogallol, logwood extract, chlorophyll-copper complex, D&C blue No. 9, D&C green No. 5, [phtalocyaninate(2-)] copper, D&C blue no. 2, D&C blue no. 6, D&C green no. 6, D&C violet no. 2, and D&C yellow No. 10. 
     
     
         9 . The deformable bone fixation element of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one colored polymer exhibits a molar heat capacity of between 1.6 kJ/kmolK and 2.9 kJ/kmolK. 
     
     
         10 . The deformable bone fixation element of  claim 2 , wherein the deformable bone fixation element is configured such that softening of the at least one colored polymer occurs below a warming temperature of 250° C. 
     
     
         11 . The deformable bone fixation element of  claim 2 , wherein the deformable bone fixation element is configured such that softening of the at least one colored polymer occurs below a warming temperature of 150° C. 
     
     
         12 . The deformable bone fixation element of  claim 2 , wherein the deformable bone fixation element is configured such that softening of the at least one colored polymer occurs below a softening temperature of 100° C. 
     
     
         13 . The deformable bone fixation element of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one colored polymer comprises a thermoplastic material. 
     
     
         14 . The deformable bone fixation element of  claim 13 , wherein the thermoplastic material is chosen from the following groups: poly-alpha-hydroxyester, polyorthoester, polyanhydride, polyphosphazines, poly(propylenefumarate), polyesteramide, polyethylenefumarate, polylactide, polyglycolide, polycaprolacton, trimethylenecarbonate, polydioxanone, polyhydroxybutyrate, as well their copolymers and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         15 . The deformable bone fixation element of  claim 2 , wherein a volume of the deformable bone fixation element is preferably within a range of about 4 mm 3  to about 400 mm 3 . 
     
     
         16 . The deformable bone fixation element of  claim 2 , wherein a surface area of the deformable bone fixation element is within a range of about 2 mm 2  to 240 mm 2 . 
     
     
         17 . The deformable bone fixation element of  claim 2 , wherein the deformable bone fixation element defines a pin. 
     
     
         18 . The deformable bone fixation element of  claim 2 , wherein the deformable bone fixation element is configured to soften and deform in response to a wavelength of electromagnetic radiation that lies in a range between 260 and 3,000 nm. 
     
     
         19 . The deformable bone fixation element of  claim 2 , wherein the deformable bone fixation element is configured to soften and deform in response to a wavelength of electromagnetic radiation that lies in a visible range and in a near infrared range of up to 1,200 nm.