US 12,137,949 B2
Rib fracture fixation device and methods for use thereof
Steven Briggs, Sioux Falls, SD (US); and Patrick W. Kelly, Sioux Falls, SD (US)
Assigned to Sanford Health, Sioux Falls, SD (US)
Appl. No. 17/283,522
Filed by Sanford Health, Sioux Falls, SD (US)
PCT Filed Oct. 14, 2019, PCT No. PCT/US2019/056102
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Apr. 7, 2021,
PCT Pub. No. WO2020/077337, PCT Pub. Date Apr. 16, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/903,131, filed on Sep. 20, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/900,332, filed on Sep. 13, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/744,906, filed on Oct. 12, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2021/0386461 A1, Dec. 16, 2021
Int. Cl. A61B 17/72 (2006.01); A61B 17/00 (2006.01); A61B 17/16 (2006.01); A61B 17/32 (2006.01); A61B 17/80 (2006.01); A61B 17/88 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 17/7208 (2013.01) [A61B 17/1633 (2013.01); A61B 17/1642 (2013.01); A61B 17/7225 (2013.01); A61B 17/7275 (2013.01); A61B 17/8076 (2013.01); A61B 17/8858 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00004 (2013.01); A61B 17/32 (2013.01); A61B 2017/320044 (2013.01)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system, comprising:
a tension line having a removable snare at a free end, wherein the tension line has threads;
a first plug configured to be advanced down the free end of the tension line and a second access hole of a rib, wherein the first plug has a hole extending longitudinally therethrough that has reciprocal threads to mate with the threads of the tension line;
a plurality of stents configured to be advanced over the tension line through a first access hole in the rib into a medullary canal of the rib until a length of the medullary canal between the first access hole and the second access hole is filled with the plurality of stents, wherein each of the plurality of stents has a concave face at a first end and a convex face at a second end such that, when the plurality of stents are arranged adjacent to each other along the tension line, the concave face of the first end of a first stent will mate with the convex face of the second end of an adjacent second stent; and
a second plug configured to be advanced down an end of the tension line and into the first access hole, wherein the second plug has a hole extending longitudinally therethrough that has reciprocal threads to mate with the threads of the tension line.