| CPC A61B 17/025 (2013.01) [A61B 2017/00075 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00221 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00407 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00867 (2013.01); A61B 2503/06 (2013.01); A61B 2562/0204 (2013.01)] | 19 Claims |

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1. A method of lengthening a bone in a subject, the method comprising:
anchoring a first block portion (3) of a subcutaneous bone distraction device (1) to a first bone section of the bone (2);
anchoring a second block portion (3′) of the subcutaneous bone distraction device (1) to a second bone section of the bone (2′);
actuating a push button expansion system (5′-6-7-8-8′) of the subcutaneous bone distraction device to incrementally and slidably advance the second block portion (3′) along a pair of opposing rails (3a) of the first block portion (3);
waiting a length of time;
thereafter actuating the push button expansion system (5′-6-7-8-8′) to incrementally and slidably advance the second block portion (3′) along the pair of opposing rails (3a) of the first block portion (3); and
repeating the steps of waiting a length of time and thereafter actuating the push button expansion system until the bone has been lengthened to a desired length;
wherein the push button expansion system (5′-6-7-8-8′) comprises an actuator (7) for receiving an activation force from a user, a floating element (6) for transferring input from the actuator (7) into lateral motion, a second locking pawl (5′) associated with the floating element (6) and with a pair of opposing ratchet sections (4) of the first block portion (3), a first energy storage element (8) associated with the floating element (6) for returning the floating element (6) to an initial position, and a second energy storage element (8′) for returning the actuator (7) to the initial position after receiving the activation force from the user.
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