Patent ID: 6613052
Filing Date: 2003-09-02
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
An expandable intermedullary support alignable within a medullary cavity of a bone, comprising:a rod having a tapered portion defining a longitudinal axis and terminating at a first end thereof, wherein the rod is axially insertable into the medullary cavity, the rod having an outer surface adapted to engage the bone, the rod having a plurality of longitudinal slots positioned radially about the rod; a plurality of longitudinal roller bearings, each roller bearing located in a longitudinal slot and movable therein between a collapsed position and an expanded position, at least a portion of each roller bearing extendable beyond the outer surface of the rod in the expanded position; and a shaft located in the rod and axially drivable therein, the shaft adapted to engage the roller bearings, wherein axial advancement of the shaft moves the roller bearings to the expanded position thereby extending the roller bearings into the bone whereby the support is anchored therein in coaxial alignment therewith, and wherein axial retraction of the shaft moves the roller bearings to the collapsed position thereby releasing the roller bearings from the bone whereby the support is axially removable from the medullary cavity of the bone.