Patent ID: 8012155
Filing Date: 2011-09-06
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. A method of strengthening and supporting a proximal femur of a patient, the patient's proximal femur including a shaft that defines an intramedullary canal and a head that extends medially from the shaft, the method comprising the steps of: providing an apparatus including a housing, a support member, and an actuator operably coupled to the support member, wherein the housing includes a proximal end and a distal end; implanting the housing into the intramedullary canal of the patient's proximal femur, and operating the actuator to move the support member between a first, undeployed position in which the support member is disposed proximate the housing and a second, deployed position in which the support member extends from the housing and into the head of the patient's proximal femur, wherein the operating step comprises pulling the actuator proximally toward the proximal end of the housing to move the support member from the first position. To the second position.