Patent ID: 7879041
Filing Date: 2011-02-01
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. A device for repairing a fractured bone comprising: a delivery catheter having an elongated shaft with a proximal end, a distal end, and a longitudinal axis therebetween, the delivery catheter having an inner void for passing at least one reinforcing material, and an inner lumen; a conformable member releasably engaging the distal end of the delivery catheter, the conformable member moving from a deflated state to an inflated state when the at least one reinforcing material is passed to the conformable member; an optical fiber, wherein the optical fiber is sized to pass through the inner lumen of the delivery catheter and into the conformable member, and wherein at least a distal portion of the optical fiber is modified by removing a portion of a cladding surrounding the optical fiber; and an adapter releasably engaging the proximal end of the delivery catheter for receiving the optical fiber and the at least one reinforcing material, wherein, when the optical fiber is in the conformable member, the distal portion of the optical fiber is able to disperse light energy at a terminating face and along a length of the optical fiber to initiate hardening of the at least one reinforcing material within the conformable member.