Patent ID: 9216049
Filing Date: 2015-12-22
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. A method for removing an existing hardened intramedullary implant from a bone comprising: identifying a location of the existing hardened intramedullary implant located in an intramedullary cavity of the bone, wherein the existing hardened intramedullary implant comprises a light sensitive liquid in a hardened state contained within a polymeric balloon, the light sensitive liquid changes in state from a flowable state to the hardened state upon exposure to light from a light source, and wherein the polymeric balloon contacts the bone in the intramedullary cavity to form a frictional engagement between the polymeric balloon and the bone; subsequent to the identifying the location of the existing hardened intramedullary implant, threading a flexible guidewire having threads at a distal end into the existing hardened intramedullary implant located in the intramedullary cavity of the bone; wherein threading the flexible guidewire into the existing hardened intramedullary implant comprises engaging the threads of the flexible guidewire into the existing hardened intramedullary implant; and applying impaction force on the flexible guidewire to remove the existing hardened intramedullary implant from the intramedullary cavity, wherein the engagement between the threads of the flexible guidewire and the existing hardened intramedullary implant create a pullout interface between the threads of the flexible guidewire and the existing hardened intramedullary implant to withstand forces that exceed a resistance force on the existing hardened intramedullary implant due to friction between the balloon and the bone in the intramedullary cavity, to pullout the existing hardened intramedullary implant from the intramedullary cavity of the bone without stripping of the existing hardened intramedullary implant.