System and methods for bone transport

Abstract

A system for bone transport is provided, the system comprising: an adjustable length implant configured for intramedullary placement and comprising a first end configured to be coupled to bone and a second end configured to be coupled to bone, wherein the first end and the second end are displaceable relative to each other along a longitudinal axis; and a driving element configured to be non-invasively activated to displace the first and second ends relative to one another along the longitudinal axis; and a support member having distal and proximal ends, wherein the support member includes a longitudinally extending slot disposed between the distal and proximal ends of the support member, the slot having opposing ends, wherein the slot is configured to pass an elongate anchor such that the elongate anchor is slidable between the first end and the second end of the slot.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for bone transport comprising:
 an adjustable length implant configured to intramedullary placement, the adjustable length implant including a housing configured to be coupled to a first bone portion and a rod configured to be coupled to a transport bone portion, wherein the rod is moveable relative to the housing; and   a support member having a first end configured to be coupled to the first bone portion and a second end configured to be coupled to a second bone portion,   wherein the rod is configured to move the transport bone portion relative to the first bone portion and the second bone portion.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the support member is configured to maintain a position of the first bone portion relative to the second bone portion while the rod moves the transport bone portion relative to the first bone portion and the second bone portion. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the support member includes a longitudinally extending slot disposed between the first end and the second end of the support member. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 an elongate anchor member configured to extend through the longitudinally extending slot to be coupled with the rod and the transport bone portion.   
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the elongate anchor is slidable within the longitudinally extending slot of the support member as the transport bone portion moves relative to the first bone portion and the second bone portion. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a driving element configured to be non-invasively actuated to displace the rod relative to the housing.   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the driving element comprises a permanent magnet. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the permanent magnet comprises a radially poled rare earth magnet. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the driving element comprises a motor. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the driving element comprises an inductively coupled motor. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the driving element comprises an ultrasonically actuated motor. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the driving element comprises a piezoelectric element. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the driving element comprises a subcutaneous hydraulic pump. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the driving element comprises a shape-memory driven actuator. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the support member comprises one or more holes at one or more of its distal end and proximal end, the one or more holes each configured to pass a bone screw. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the one or more holes each have a female thread, configured to engage a male thread carried by a head of a bone screw. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the adjustable-length implant is configured such that when the driving element is non-invasively activated, the distance between the first end and the second end of the adjustable-length implant can be controllably shortened. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an external adjustment device configured to cause displacement of the rod relative to the housing.   
     
     
         19 . A system for bone transport comprising:
 an adjustable length implant configured to intramedullary placement, the adjustable length implant including a housing configured to be coupled to a first bone portion and a rod configured to be coupled to a transport bone portion, wherein the rod is moveable relative to the housing; and   a support member having a first end configured to be coupled to the first bone portion and a second end configured to be coupled to a second bone portion; and   an external adjustment device configured to cause displacement of the rod relative to the housing,   wherein the rod is configured to move the transport bone portion relative to the first bone portion and the second bone portion upon, and   wherein the support member is configured to maintain a position of the first bone portion relative to the second bone portion.