Devices for treating a bone and methods of inserting such devices into a bone are disclosed. A device for treating a bone may include a flexible tube, a stiffening mechanism and an actuator. The flexible tube has a distal end and a proximal end. The stiffening mechanism within the flexible tube is configured to cause the flexible tube to become rigid. The actuator is configured to cause the stiffening mechanism to cause the flexible tube to become rigid in response to the actuator being actuated.

A system for targeting a feature on a surgical device, includes a shape sensing element coupled to an interrogator and operable to provide information to related to said portion's position in a reference frame in communication with the targeted feature. The interrogator is operable to poll the shape sensing element for information related to said portion's position in the reference frame. A surgical tool is coupled to the targeting system in communication with the shape sensing element. The data processor is operable to communicate with the interrogator to output position information of the portion of the shape sensing element with respect to a calibrated position, defined as the position of the portion of the shape sensing element in the reference frame when the guide axis is aligned to the targeted feature. A display provides the user visual information comparing the position of the tool to the targeted feature.

A surgical nail includes a nail body that includes a proximal end, an elongate intermediate portion comprising an intermediate flexible portion, and a distal end. The proximal end includes a proximal head portion and is configured to couple to a washer. The proximal end and the distal end are coupled and offset from one another by the elongate intermediate portion. The intermediate flexible portion comprises at least two cables bonded one to another and configured to maintain a fixed length. The proximal portion and the threaded end portion can be coupled together by the intermediate flexible portion as a unitary, integrated element prior to any use of the surgical nail in an implant procedure. The intermediate flexible portion is configured to permit the proximal portion to bend at an angle relative to the distal portion as a unitary, integrated element.

Devices for treating a bone and methods of inserting such devices into a bone are disclosed. A device for treating a bone may include a flexible tube, a stiffening mechanism and an actuator. The flexible tube has a distal end and a proximal end. The stiffening mechanism within the flexible tube is configured to cause the flexible tube to become rigid. The actuator is configured to cause the stiffening mechanism to cause the flexible tube to become rigid in response to the actuator being actuated.

A bone fixation assembly may include an elongate fixation member and a flexible tensioning element. The elongate fixation member may include a central longitudinal axis, a distal portion couplable to a first bone fragment of a bone, and a proximal portion couplable to a second bone fragment of the bone to provide fixation of the second bone fragment relative to the first bone fragment. The flexible tensioning element may be couplable to the proximal and distal portions of the elongate fixation member to secure the elongate fixation member to the bone. The flexible tensioning element may be configured to span a bone fracture intermediate the first bone fragment and the second bone fragment to preload the bone fracture in compression to resist tensile force imparted across the bone fracture, thereby maintaining fixation of the first bone fragment relative to the second bone fragment.

Implantable devices for fixation of curved bones such as the pelvic ring pubic symphysis and acetabulum, and methods for the use of the devices are disclosed. The implantable devices are convertible between a flexible state and a rigid state using a shape locking section. The implantable devices further include a main body and a distal bone interface. In a flexible state, the devices may be inserted along, and conform to a curved pathway, and in the rigid state, the devices may support the mechanical loads required to fixate a fracture.

A bone screw, for drawing first and second bone fragments together, includes a shaft having a distal section and a proximal section. The distal section has a first external male screw thread and a minor diameter. The proximal section has a second external male screw thread. A major diameter of the distal section is larger than a major diameter of the proximal section. The bone screw includes a sleeve that has an internal female screw thread configured to mate with the second male screw thread. A distal portion of the sleeve has an outer diameter. The outer diameter is equal to or smaller than the minor diameter of the distal section of the shaft.

Devices, assemblies, kits, systems and methods for shaping of elongated elements containing thermoplastic polymers are disclosed.

A bone fixation assembly may include an elongate fixation member and a flexible tensioning element. The elongate fixation member may include a central longitudinal axis, a distal portion couplable to a first bone fragment of a bone, and a proximal portion couplable to a second bone fragment of the bone to provide fixation of the second bone fragment relative to the first bone fragment. The flexible tensioning element may be couplable to the proximal and distal portions of the elongate fixation member to secure the elongate fixation member to the bone. The flexible tensioning element may be configured to span a bone fracture intermediate the first bone fragment and the second bone fragment to preload the bone fracture in compression to resist tensile force imparted across the bone fracture, thereby maintaining fixation of the first bone fragment relative to the second bone fragment.

Systems and methods for intermedullary bone fracture fixation are described herein. The fixation device includes a main body having a flexible state and a rigid state. The fixation device further includes a proximal interface coupled to a proximal end of the main body to anchor the fixation device to an exterior surface of the bone and a distal interface coupled to a distal end of the main body to anchor the fixation device to an interior cavity of the bone. The fixation device further includes a locking interface to configured to convert the main body from the flexible state to the rigid state.