Apparatus and method for repairing a fractured bone. The apparatus and methods may involve an intramedullary rod. The rod may include a first elongated member and a second elongated member. Each of the first and second elongated members may be configured to bend in a first direction and to resist bending in a second direction. The first and second elongated members may be arranged such that: (1) the rod is bendable when the first direction of the first elongated member is aligned with the first direction of the second elongated member; and (2) the rod is rigid when the first direction of the first elongated member is aligned with the second direction of the second elongated member. Some embodiments may include rods that have sections that may be configured to be curved and rigid.

An intramedullary bone fixation device is provided with an elongate body having a longitudinal axis and an actuator to deploy at least one gripper to engage an inner surface of the intramedullary space to anchor the fixation device to the bone. Methods of repairing a fracture of a bone are also disclosed. One such method comprises inserting a fixation device into an intramedullary space of the bone to place at least a portion of the fixation device on one side of the fracture, providing rigidity across the fracture, and operating an actuator to deploy at least one gripper to engage an inner surface of the intramedullary space to anchor the fixation device to the bone. Various configurations allow a segmented device body to lock in the intramedullary space before and/or after fixation of the bone.

A tunable stiffness bone rod promotes the healing of fractured bones, such as tibia bones. The tunable stiffness bone rod includes a hexagonal shape that has variable levels of stiffness upon application of an axial force. The axial force will begin a low stiffness movement of the bone rod until a threshold is met. Upon reaching the threshold, the stiffness of the bone rod increases to lessen additional longitudinal movement caused by the axial force on the bone rod.

Described herein are devices, methods and kits for assessing and/or enhancing the accessibility of a subvalvular space of a heart, accessing the subvalvular space of the heart (e.g., to provide access for one or more other devices), and/or positioning one or more devices in the subvalvular space of the heart. The devices described herein may, for example, comprise catheters that may be used to manipulate one or more chordae tendineae, diagnostic catheters having different sizes and/or shapes (e.g., different curvatures), guide catheters having different sizes and/or shapes (e.g., different curvatures), and visualization catheters. In some variations, the devices, methods, and/or kits may be used to visualize a target site, such as a subannular groove of a heart valve. In certain variations, the devices, methods, and/or kits may be used to manipulate chordae tendineae to provide additional space in a ventricle of a heart (e.g., enhancing the accessibility of the ventricle).

The disclosure provides example methods, systems and apparatus for stabilization of a rib. An example method includes: (a) accessing a medullary canal of a rib having a fracture, (b) advancing a guidewire into the medullary canal across the fracture, (c) advancing a delivery catheter containing a stent over the guidewire into the medullary canal and across the fracture, (d) retracting the delivery catheter relative to the stent, and (e) expanding the stent in the medullary canal.

An embodiment of a body bead for a bone fracture fixation device, such as a rodscrew, includes at least one pocket and at least one tab. Each of the at least one pocket is configured to engage a respective one of at least one tab of an adjacent body bead and to withstand, without being significantly deformed, a torque of at least three N.Math.m while rotating with the adjacent body bead. And each of the at least one tab is configured to engage a respective one of at least one pocket of another adjacent body bead and to withstand, without being significantly deformed, a torque of at least three N.Math.m while rotating with the other adjacent body bead.

An intramedullary nail may include a shank with a centerline defined along a length thereof. The intramedullary nail may also include a channel with a channel axis transverse to the centerline. The channel may have an obround shape in a first cross-sectional plane perpendicular to the channel axis at the centerline and a tapered profile in a second cross-sectional plane containing the channel axis. A proximal edge of the channel within the second cross-sectional plane may form a first angle relative to the channel axis and a distal edge of the channel within the second cross-sectional plane may form a second angle relative to the channel axis that is different from the first angle.

Implantable devices for fixation of curved bone 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, and include an elongate structure having a proximal bone interface, 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.

Described herein are devices, methods and kits for assessing and/or enhancing the accessibility of a subvalvular space of a heart, accessing the subvalvular space of the heart (e.g., to provide access for one or more other devices), and/or positioning one or more devices in the subvalvular space of the heart. The devices described herein may, for example, comprise catheters that may be used to manipulate one or more chordae tendineae, diagnostic catheters having different sizes and/or shapes (e.g., different curvatures), guide catheters having different sizes and/or shapes (e.g., different curvatures), and visualization catheters. In some variations, the devices, methods, and/or kits may be used to visualize a target site, such as a subannular groove of a heart valve. In certain variations, the devices, methods, and/or kits may be used to manipulate chordae tendineae to provide additional space in a ventricle of a heart (e.g., enhancing the accessibility of the ventricle).

The invention consists in a product for the closed reduction and, more specifically, in a new type of an intramedullary cannulated guide for fracture reduction with an endoscopic camera for use in intramedullary nailing surgeries. The intramedullary cannulated guide for fracture reduction is consisted of a flexible, unbreakable, modular and cannulated shaft, a T-handle with a hole in the upper surface, a camera, which is located at the edge of the guide, bears a lightning source and is connected wired or wireless to an image reproduction device, a sealing flange with a slot or spout, an input/output cannula for liquid suction and/or washing of the camera glass. The intramedullary cannulated guide for fracture reduction with an endoscopic camera is inserted in a bone that has suffered a fracture. The intramedullary image that the camera transmits, when it encounters the fracture point, is shown on the screen. Thus, the surgeon perceives the direction towards which the bone parts have to be pushed, in order to achieve their reduction with skeletal manipulations. After the intramedullary cannulated guide for fracture reduction is inserted, the camera is removed from the guide, by pulling out the cable of the camera, and, through the canal of the guide, the ball tip guide wire is inserted and the surgery continues as it is conducted up until today.