Patent ID: 9155574
Filing Date: 2015-10-13
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. A bone fixation device comprising: an elongate body having a longitudinal axis and a flexible-to-rigid portion having a first state in which at least a portion of the body is flexible and a second state in which the body is generally rigid; a first actuatable bone engaging gripper disposed on the elongate body; a second actuatable bone engaging gripper disposed on the elongate body distal from the first gripper; a hub coupled to a proximal end of the elongate body; and an actuator operably connected to at least one of the first and the second grippers to actuate the gripper from a disengaged configuration to an engaged configuration, the first and the second grippers each having at least one bendable member, the member pivoting away from the longitudinal axis of the elongate body when the gripper is actuated, the actuator also being operably connected to the elongate body to change the elongate body from its flexible state to its rigid state, wherein the actuator comprises an actuator head comprising a ramped surface, wherein the actuator head is slideably disposed on an interior of the at least one of the first and the second grippers, the actuator head configured to outwardly actuate the at least one of the first and the second grippers away from the longitudinal axis; a second actuator, thereby allowing each of the two grippers to be independently actuated.