Intramedullary skeletal distractor and method

[0002] This application is a continuation of international application number PCT 98/00065, filed Jan. 9, 1998, (status, abandoned, pending, etc.) pending; based on U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/631,673 filed Apr. 9, 1996, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,704,939.

[0003] 1. Field of the Invention

[0004] The present invention relates generally to surgical implements for use in the lengthening of bones, and more specifically to an apparatus and method for intramedullary skeletal distraction.

[0005] 2. Description of Related Art

[0006] The problem of limb-length discrepancies resulting from congenital, postinfectious, and post-traumatic disorders is one that has received the attention of many researchers. Various devices have been known in the art that can be attached to the ends of a sectioned bone and made to lengthen progressively, the lengthening causing growth of bone tissue at the site of sectioning and thus a commensurate lengthening of the bone. The devices are then removed when the desire length is achieved or they may be left in place as an internal splint.

[0007] External distractors, usually comprising pins passing through soft tissue and bone, can carry non-negligible potential risks of injection, pain, and muscle contractures. One benefit, however, is the accessibility of this type of device to manipulation extracutaneously.

[0008] Several internal apparatus, designed to be placed within the medulla of a long bone, have been described. Intramedullary elongation devices have also been described in prior publications.

[0009] An attempt to obviate the need for directly contacting the elongation members has been made by Grammont et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 5,074,882; Trans. 37th Ann. Mtg. Orthopaedic Research Soc., Vol. 16, p. 657, 1991). As in previous prostheses, two telescoping tubes are used to stimulate progressive elongation of a limb. A related embodiment of the device and method to be discussed herein, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference, may be found in “intermedullary Skeletal Distractor and Method,” U.S. Pat. No. 5,505,733, issued to D. Justin and J. D. Cole.

[0010] It is an object of the invention to provide an intramedullary skeletal distractor that elongates under the normal forces and torsions experienced in daily life and thus stimulates progressive elongation of a sectioned bone.

[0011] It is a further object of the invention to provide a device that has no extracutaneous elements.

[0012] It is another object of the invention to provide an elongation mechanism whose motion is effected with the use of a clutch and a threaded rod that together cause elongation under rotation in one direction and prevent shortening under rotation in the opposite direction.

[0013] It is an additional object to provide such a device having an elongation mechanism not subject to an axial load imposed by the patient's weight and tissue, such as in contracture.

[0014] It is yet a further object to provide such a device that emits an extracutaneously receivable signal indicative of an amount of lengthening caused by the elongation mechanism.

[0015] These and other objects of the invention are achieved by the device and method for elongating a bone. The device, an intramedullary skeletal distractor, is responsive to rotational oscillations during normal movement within the medulla of a bone.

[0016] The present distractor is for use in a medullary cavity of a bone, and comprises a first and a second cylindrical member dimensioned such that the second cylindrical member can slide into the first in telescopic fashion. Each member has a first end, a second end, and a bore, and the members are telescoped such that the first end of the second member is positioned between the first and second ends of the first member In use, the first and second cylindrical members are attached to the proximal and distal sections of a bone, respectively.

[0017] The device further comprises an elongated rod, also having a first and a second end, with a diameter dimensioned to slide within the bore of the second cylindrical member. The first end of the rod resides within the bore of, and is affixed to, the first cylindrical member. The second end of the rod resides within the bore of the second cylindrical member.

[0018] In one embodiment clutch means are positioned within the bore of the first cylindrical member upon the elongated rod. The clutch means is selectively responsive to rotation in a first direction, upon which it operates upon the second cylindrical member to effect elongating telescopic movement. Upon rotation in the opposite second direction, the clutch means locks the rod from rotating and thus prevents contracting telescopic motion. The clutch means are positioned out of the axial (longitudinal) kinetic chain of the first and the second cylindrical members and the threaded rod, thereby preventing the clutch means from experiencing an axial load during use. This confers the advantage of permitting a finer response to rotation, as the clutch means itself need not then be sufficiently robust to withstand such an axial load.

[0019] In one subembodiment, the clutch means comprises a first and a second clutch. The first clutch is positioned in the bore of the first cylindrical member between the first ends of the first and second cylindrical members. The first clutch has an outer periphery dimensioned to fit sufficiently tightly in the bore that movement is communicated between the first cylindrical member and the first clutch. The first clutch is also positioned upon the elongated rod and is constructed so that the inner diameter of the first clutch fits sufficiently tightly thereupon that motion in the first direction is communicated thereto and that motion in the second direction permits slippage therebetween.

[0020] The second clutch is positioned within the bore of the second cylindrical member and upon a threaded portion of the elongated rod. The second clutch also has an outer periphery dimensioned to fit sufficiently tightly in the bore that movement is communicated therebetween. When rotation of the elongated rod occurs in the second direction, slippage of the elongated rod within the second clutch is permitted, and the second clutch travels along the threaded portion, pushing the second cylindrical member away from the first cylindrical member. When rotation occurs in the first direction, slippage of the elongated rod within the second clutch is not permitted, the elongated rod rotates with the second clutch, slipping within the first clutch, and no lateral motion occurs.

[0021] In an alternate embodiment, means are provided in communication with the elongated rod for determining an amount of elongation that has occurred from the starting position. This determination can be made from an extracutaneous location (i.e., noninvasively).

[0022] In another embodiment, a rotation-effecting means is provided that is affixed to the elongated rod. This means, which may take the form of a magnetically susceptible material, is responsive to an extracutaneous signal to produce rotation. Thus elongation can be effected noninvasively and controllably from a location external to the device.

[0023] The method of using the first embodiment of the skeletal distractor comprises the following steps: The device is inserted into the medulla of a bone. The first cylindrical member is then affixed to the proximal section of bone, and the second cylindrical member, to the distal section of bone. Due to the precision of the clutch mechanism used herein, during the normal motions of daily life, sufficient torsion will typically occur to activate the clutch mechanism and effect elongation. When sufficient elongation has occurred in the bone, the device is removed.

[0024] The method of using the externally driven skeletal distractor comprises the step of causing an elongating telescopic movement between the first and second cylindrical members by effecting a rotation of the elongated rod rather than depending upon physiological torsions.

[0025] The features that characterize the invention, both as to organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, will be better understood from the following description used in conjunction with the accompanying drawing. It is to be expressly understood that the drawing is for the purpose of illustration and description and are not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention. These and other objects attained, and advantages offered, by the present invention will become more fully apparent as the description that now follows is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing.

[0026] FIG. 1 illustrates the skeletal distractor (a) assembled and in its most shortened position and (b) in exploded view.

[0027] FIG. 2 is (a) a longitudinal view and (b) a longitudinal sectional view of the first cylindrical member. The views in (a) and (b) are rotated 90 degrees from each other along the cylindrical axis.

[0028] FIG. 3 is (a) a longitudinal view and (b) a longitudinal section view of the second cylindrical member. The views in (a) and (b) are rotated 90 degrees from each other along the cylindrical axis.

[0029] FIG. 4 illustrates the elongated rod. The views in 9(a) and (b) are rotated 90 degrees from each other along the cylindrical axis.

[0030] FIGS. 5(a) and (b) are cross-sectional views of two embodiments of the indicator mechanism with the piston (a) within the cutout and (b) entirely within the bore in the elongated rod. FIG. 5(c) is a cross-sectional view of a further embodiment of the indicator mechanism having a pair of pistons.

[0031] FIG. 6 depicts an exploded view of the overrunning roller clutch used in the distractor.

[0032] FIG. 7 illustrates the skeletal distractor positioned within the medullary cavity of a bone.

[0033] FIG. 8 illustrates an alternate embodiment of the device having a bent first cylindrical member.

[0034] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the keyring of the present invention.

[0035] FIG. 10 is an exploded view of the device having a magnetic position-indicating device.

[0036] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the magnetically driven embodiment of the skeletal distractor, using (a) a static magnet or (b) an electromagnet, (c) an exploded view of the device, and (d) a cross-sectional view of the second cylindrical member.

[0037] FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the magnetic position-indicating device in place within a bone.

[0038] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of an alternate one-piece assembly of a roller clutch.

[0039] FIG. 14 is an exploded view of an alternate embodiment of the overrunning roller clutch.

[0040] The preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be discussed with references to FIGS. 1-14.

[0041] The intramedullary skeletal distractor, shown assembled and in exploded view in FIGS. 1aand 1b, respectively, will be referred to generally by the reference numeral 10. Device 10 comprises a first 20 and a second 30 cylindrical member, shown in cross section in FIGS. 2 and 3, respectively, an elongated rod 40, shown in FIG. 4, and an indicator mechanism 50, shown in FIG. 5. In this embodiment the clutch means comprise a first clutch 60 and a second clutch 70 (FIG. 1), both overrunning roller clutches that permit rotation in one direction and lock movement in the other direction. It can be appreciated by one skilled in the art that other types of clutches may be substituted, such as spring, spiral-band, friction, magnetic, or sprag clutches.

[0042] In detail, first cylindrical member 20 (FIG. 2) has a first end 202, a second end 204, an outer diameter 206, an inner wall 214, an outer wall 216, and a partial longitudinal bore 208. Bore 208 communicates with second end 204 but does not proceed through to first end 202.

[0043] Adjacent first end 202 is angled bore 212, through which a screw 604 is inserted to anchor first cylindrical member 20 to a proximal section 602 of bone 60 (see FIG. 7). Angled bore 212 does not communicate with longitudinal bore 208. In the preferred embodiment, angle 218, measured from the cylinder axis of first end 202 to the axis of bore 212 is in the range of 45-60 degrees for the case of, for instance, a femur or a humerus. This angle permits the anchoring means to engage the thickest portion of bone and thus provide the greatest strength.

[0044] For the case of a tibia, a slightly different embodiment of first cylindrical member 80 is provided. As shown in FIG. 8, first end 802 of first cylindrical member 80 is slightly bent, typically at an angle 810 of approximately 10 degrees from the cylinder axis. The location of the bend 804 occurs between the first end 802 and the end of bore 808 closest the first end 802. In this embodiment, instead of angled bore 212, two diametric bores 806 and 808 are provided adjacent first end 802 through which a pair of screws may be inserted to anchor first cylindrical member 80 to the proximal section of the tibia.

[0045] Returning to FIG. 2, within first end 202 and communicating with angled bore 212, but not communicating with longitudinal bore 208, is threaded longitudinal bore 210. Threaded bore 210 is utilized during insertion and retrieval of the device by threading an extension member (not shown) into bore 210. Bore 210 is also used as a passageway for the insertion of a drill guide to assist in the correct placement of screw 604. In an alternate embodiment, a nail may be used in place of screw 604. With either a screw or a nail, bore 210 may also be used for a locking set screw 606 to secure the screw or the nail in place.

[0046] Bore 208 has three stages, which, proceeding from second end 204, are first section 220, having the largest diameter 222 and length 221; section 224, having intermediate diameter 226; and third section 228, having the smallest diameter 230 and having an octagonal internal wall profile in axial cross section.

[0047] Outer wall 216 has a tapered section 232 at second end 204, through which is a pair of opposed slots 234 and 236, having a width 238 for engaging keyring 95, to be discussed in the following.

[0048] Second cylindrical member 30, shown in detail in FIG. 3, has first end 302, second end 304, outer diameter 306, longitudinal bore 308, outer wall 310, and inner wall 312. Outer diameter 306 is dimensioned to slidably engage first section 220 of bore 208 in first cylindrical member 20. Outer diameter 306 is further dimensioned to be larger than the diameter 226 of second section 224; therefore, the depth to which second cylindrical member 30 can be inserted into first cylindrical member 20 is determined by the length 221 of first section 220. When assembled (see FIG. 1), first end 302 is inserted (after elongated rod 40, vide infra) into bore 208 from second end 204 of first cylindrical member 20. In the preferred embodiment, second end 304 is tapered 315 and has a rounded edge 313 to facilitate insertion. A pair of opposed slots, 314 and 316, not communicating with bore 308, run from adjacent second end 304 to a section 318 of first end 302. Slots 314 and 316 have a width 315 perpendicular to the axis of second cylindrical member 30. Near second end 304 is a pair of diametric bores 320 and 322, proceeding through and having a larger diameter than the width 315 of slots 314 and 316. Bores 320 and 322 are utilized for screws 607 and 608, which secure member 30 to a distal section 610 of bone 60 (see FIG. 7).

[0049] Beginning from the second end 304, bore 308 has three stages: first section 334, having diameter 326; second section 336, which is threaded, having diameter 338; and third section 340, having diameter 342.

[0050] Distal plug 90 (FIG. 1b) is dimensioned to fit into bore 308 of the second cylindrical member 30 at second end 304 and extends from second end 304 past the location of bore 320. Distal plug 90 serves to strengthen the distal end and to block intramedullary tissue from entering bore 308 during insertion and elongation. Distal plug 90 also has a pair of circumferential bores 902 and 904 extending therethrough and communicating with bores 322 and 320, respectively.

[0051] Keyring 95 (FIG. 9) is a cylindrical member dimensioned to be press fit onto the second end 204 of first cylindrical member 20. Keyring 95 has an inner wall 952, from which a pair of opposed protrusions 954 and 956, each having a width 958, extend into bore 960. When assembled, protrusions 954 and 956 engage opposed slots 234 and 236 in first cylindrical member 20 and also opposed slots 314 and 316 in second cylindrical member 30. The purpose of keyring 95 is to prevent excessive rotation of first 20 and second 30 cylindrical members and yet permit sufficient relative rotation to activate the clutches. Thus the width 958 of protrusions 954 and 956 must be dimensioned smaller than slot widths 238 and 315 to permit a relative rotation sufficient to activate the clutch mechanism and is also within the limits of natural anatomical limb rotations. In the preferred embodiment, a rotation of 3 degrees is permitted.

[0052] Elongated rod 40, shown in FIG. 4, has a first end 402, and second end 404, length 408, and diameter 406. Extending from second end 404 is threaded portion 410 of rod 40, dimensioned to mate with threaded section 336 of second cylindrical member 30. Extending from first end 402 is nonthreaded portion 412. Extending into nonthreaded portion 412 are partial 414 and full 416 diametric bores. When assembled (see FIG. 1), first end 402 resides within the full extent of bore 208 of first cylindrical member 20 and is threaded into threaded section 336 of second cylindrical member 30, with which it is rotatably engaged and longitudinally extendable thereby, as will become apparent in the following.

[0053] Affixed to nonthreaded portion 412 of elongated rod 40 at first end 402 is indicator mechanism 50 (see FIG. 1), shown in detail in FIGS. 5aand 5b. Indicator mechanism 50 comprises indicator housing 52, piston 54, and spring 53.

[0054] Indicator housing 52 is a hollow octagonal element having an outer periphery 520 dimensioned to closely fit within third section 228 of bore 208 of first cylindrical member 20. Indicator housing 52 also has a bore 522 that has four substantially identical cutouts 526 that are equally spaced radially (at 90 degrees from each other) about bore 522, cutouts 526 having a radial extent 528. Bore 522 further has a minimum diameter 524 over the bore 522 regions away from cutouts 526. Minimum diameter 524 is dimensioned to encompass and closely engage nonthreaded portion 412 of elongated rod 40.

[0055] Piston 54 and cutouts 526 are shaped so as to closely engage each other. The radial profile 542 of piston 54 has a sloping edge 544 and a substantially straight edge 546 approximately collinear with the radius of elongated rod 40. The radial extent 548 of pistons 54 is greater than the radial extent 528 of cutouts 526. Cutouts 526 have a radial profile 541 having a sloping edge 543, which curves oppositely from curve 544, and a substantially straight edge 545. The sloping and straight edges of the piston and a cutout substantially align when the piston resides within the cutout.

[0056] When assembled (see FIG. 1), spring 53 is inserted into bore 414 in rod 40 and piston 54 is inserted into bore 414 atop spring 53. Indicator housing 52 is then fit over first end 402 of rod 40 so that piston 54 resides in one cutout 526 and extends partially into bore 414. It can be seen that relative rotation between indicator housing 52 and rod 40 is opposed in a first direction 548 toward straight edge 546, but that it is possible in a second direction 549 toward sloping edge 544. If rotation in second direction 549 is to occur, however, a sufficient torque must be exerted to overcome the coefficient of friction of the mechanism and the spring constant of spring 53, so that spring 53 is compressed by piston 54 being pushed into bore 414. When sufficient rotation in the second direction occurs so that pistons 54 reside completely within bore 414, as shown in FIG. 5(b), less torque is required to continue rotation. When a rotation of 90 degrees is achieved, piston 54 reaches the next cutout 526, and an audible sound is emitted as piston 54 snaps into cutout 526 as spring 53 is released.

[0057] In a subembodiment, an audible sound may be a signal that sufficient forcible torque has been applied to overcome the resistance of the indicator mechanism and thus alert the patient that progressive elongation may occur.

[0058] In another subembodiment, a magnetic field may be applied to move the piston into the bore 714, releasing the indicator mechanism.

[0059] In a further subembodiment as shown in FIG. 5(c), the indicator mechanism 50′ comprises a pair of opposed pistons 54 and 54′ and a full diametric bore extending completely through the enlongated rod. In this configuration, the spring 53′ is held within the bore by the pair of pistons. The housing and the elongated rod rotate relatively to each other as previously described in the second direction from one pair of opposed cutouts to an adjacent pair of opposed cutouts.

[0060] It can be seen that further subembodiments may comprise different numbers of cutouts, also equally radially spaced. For instance, three cutouts would be spaced 120 degrees apart. Having the flexibility afforded by such a variety of indicator mechanisms permits one to custom design elongation parameters without altering any of the other elements.

[0061] Also affixed to nonthreaded portion 412 of elongated rod 40 is indicator bearing 55, a cylindrical member having a longitudinal bore 552 dimensioned to closely engage nonthreaded portion 412 (see FIG. 1). Diametric bore 554 communicates with bore 416, and locking pin 58 is inserted through bores 554 and 416, retaining bearing 55 upon rod 40. When assembled, bearing 55 resides within third section 228 of bore 208 in first cylindrical member 20, further toward second end 204 than and adjacent to indicator mechanism 50.

[0062] First clutch 60, the structure of which is shown in FIG. 6, has an outer periphery 620 dimensioned to fit sufficiently tightly within the second section 224 of bore 208 of first cylindrical member 20 that rotational motion can be communicated therebetween. In an alternate embodiment, as shown in FIG. 10, first clutch 60 screws into a threaded portion in the second section 224 of bore 208, and is held in place by a retaining bushing 64. First clutch 60 further has an inner diameter 604 dimensioned to closely engage nonthreaded portion 412 of elongated rod 40 and also communicate rotational motion therebetween. When assembled, first clutch 60 is mounted on nonthreaded portion 412 between indicator bearing 55 and threaded portion 410. First clutch 60 permits slippage between rod 40 and first cylindrical member 20 when rotation occurs in a first direction and communicates rotation therebetween in the second direction.

[0063] Second clutch 70, identical in structure to first clutch 60 shown in FIG. 6, has an outer periphery 702 dimensioned to fit sufficiently tightly within widest section 340 of second cylindrical member 30 that rotational motion can be communicated therebetween. Second clutch 70 further has an inner diameter 740 dimensioned to engage threaded portion 410 of rod 40 and move longitudinally therealong. The directionality of second clutch 70 permits locking between rod 40 and second cylindrical member 30 when rotation occurs in the first direction; rotation in the second direction causes rotational slip, thus allowing linear movement between rod 40 and member 30. When the device 10 is fully assembled, rotation in the second direction causes second clutch 70 to move along threaded portion 410 of rod 40 toward second end 404, and consequently threaded portion 410 moves in a longitudinal direction out of threaded section 336 of bore 308 in second cylindrical member 30. Such relative longitudinal movement serves to push second cylindrical member 30 out of the bore 208 of first cylindrical member 20, elongating device 10.

[0064] In detail, clutches 60 and 70 comprise cylindrical clutch housing 702, clutch cage 704, end cap 706, four clutch springs 708, and twelve clutch rollers 710.

[0065] Clutch housing 702 has a bore 711 having inner surface 712, a first end 701, and a second end 703. Inner surface 712 has sixteen asymmetrically shaped radial cutouts 713 having a gradual slope 714 in a first direction and a sharper slope 716 in a second direction.

[0066] Clutch cage 704 comprises a first ring-shaped end 718 and a second ring-shaped end 720 spaced apart by four equally spaced support members 722 affixed to the facing surfaces 719 and 721 of ends 718 and 720, respectively. Each of these facing surfaces 719 and 721 has a circumferential channel 726 and 727, respectively, therein. Second end 720 is dimensioned to slide within first end 701 of clutch housing 702; first end 718 is larger than clutch housing 702 and thus will not slide past first end 701 of clutch housing 702.

[0067] Each clutch roller 710 comprises a substantially cylindrical member having a first 734 and a second 736 narrowed end. One set of three clutch rollers 710 resides between adjacent support members 722, the first ends 734 positioned within channel 727 and second ends 736 positioned within channel 726. When assembled, with cage 704 within housing 702, clutch rollers 710 are biased against sharper slope 716 by springs 708, which are mounted on support members 722. Rollers 710 cannot rotate in the second direction past the sharper slope 716 of the housing, but they can rotate in the first direction past the gradual slope 714. This selective rotational ability provides the clutch directionality.

[0068] To complete the assembly, end cap 706, having a depending lip 738 dimensioned to fit within housing bore 711, is placed over housing 702 at second end 703.

[0069] Since both clutches 60 and 70 are overrunning roller clutches, very small rotations can effect elongation. In practice, torsions as small as 1 degree, well within the range of normal physiological movement, will cause elongation of device 10. Therefore, no external manipulation is necessary, and, rather than the several larger elongations per day required of previously disclosed devices, small progressive longitudinal increments can occur throughout the day, a more desirable situation for stimulation of bone growth. The only external manipulation required is that necessary to release the indicator mechanism 50. In practice, for human subjects, the device is designed to permit 0.20-0.25 mm of elongation per 90 degree rotation of the elongated rod 40, and manipulation to release this mechanism is recommended four to six times per day, for a total elongation of 1 mm per day.

[0070] In an alternate embodiment of the clutch construction, shown in FIG. 14, the clutch 61 has a cylindrical clutch housing 612, a clutch cage 614, an end cap (not shown), eight clutch springs 618, and eight clutch rollers 610. The principle of operation is identical to that described for clutches 60 and 70, except that there is one clutch spring 618 for every clutch roller 610.

[0071] Another alternate embodiment of the roller clutch is shown in FIG. 13, which illustrates a one-piece roller/spring/cage assembly 62 that is dimensioned to be inserted into housing 702. In this assembly 62, which can be made, for example, by laser cutting or metal injection molding, the generally cylindrical “cage” portion 622 of the structure is fenestrated, having openings 624 in which the spring portions 626 and roller portions 628 are supported by interconnections between each other and, for the spring portions 626, with the cage portion 622.

[0072] In this clutch 62 design a first end 625 of each leaf spring 626 joins the roller 628 near the center thereof. A second end 627 of each leaf spring 626 joins a longitudinal section 621 of the cage 622 also near the center thereof. Each roller portion 628 is supported only by the leaf spring's first end 625, thereby permitting some movement relative thereto. Under tension, the clutch operates in similar fashion to those discussed above, in that the roller portions 628 are restrained from rotating in the second direction by the shape of the housing 702 and are permitted to rotate in the first direction. In this case, however, the roller 628 do not rotate fully; rather, they turn slightly, exerting a force on the leaf springs 626. The spring portions 626 comprise a loop of metal having sufficient flexibility to permit clutch rotation under physiological conditions but sufficient stiffness to restrain free motion.

[0073] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 13, there are 13 roller/spring units. While this number is meant to be exemplary and nonlimiting, it should be noted that the. construction of the clutch must strike a balance: The fewer the rollers, the larger they are in diameter, which limits the diameter of the elongated rod and the wall thickness of the cylindrical members; the greater the number of rollers, the smaller they are in diameter, which permits either the elongated rod or the wall thickness of the cylindrical members to be greater and, thereby, stronger. However, if the number of rollers becomes too large, the clutch would be unmachineable and too weak; therefore, a workable range is likely from 8 to 16 rollers for this embodiment, although this is not intended as limiting, as new materials might indeed make it possible to achieve operable clutches having a larger number of rollers.

[0074] The method of utilizing the above-described device comprises the following steps (see FIG. 7): An incision at the head of the sectioned bone 60 to be treated is made, through which the distractor 10 is inserted into the medulla of the bone. The first 20 and the second 30 cylindrical members are affixed by screws 604, 607, and 608 to the proximal 602 and distal 610 sections of the bone 60, respectively. When are torsional movement in the first direction occurs, the second clutch moves along the threaded portion of the elongated rod, pushing the second cylindrical member away from the first, elongating the device. Successive rotations continue to telescope the device until 0.25 mm elongation is reached, at which point the indicator mechanism locks against further elongation. At the end of quarter-day, either a second party or the patient him/herself forcibly rotates the limb until the piston is pushed within the bore in the elongated rod and clutch movement can occur again. When the limb has been stimulated to grow at bone section point 601 to the length desired, the distractor is removed from the bone 60 or left in place as an internal splint.

[0075] In a second embodiment 12, shown in FIG. 10, means are provided that are in communication with the elongated rod 42 for determining from an extracutaneous location an amount of elongating telescopic movement that has occurred between the first 20 and the second 30 cylindrical members from a predetermined starting position. This movement-determining means comprises a signal-producing means, wherein the signal produced is indicative of a rotational position of the elongated rod 42.

[0076] In a specific embodiment, the signal-producing means comprises a magnet 43, such as a rare-earth magnet, having a pole (N-S) axis 432 oriented generally diametrically relative to the elongated rod 42. The magnet 43 must be rotationally constrained relative to the elongated rod 42, so that a movement of the elongated rod 42 is communicated to the magnet 43 and the magnetic field is thereby indicative of the rotational position of the elongated rod 42.

[0077] As shown in FIG. 10, the elongated rod 42 has a partial longitudinal bore 422 from the second end 424, within which the magnet 43 is dimensioned to reside. Close engagement is provided by a plug 44 that tightly encompasses the magnet's second end 434 and fits within the bore 422 sufficiently tightly that rotational movement is communicated between the magnet 43 and the elongated rod 42.

[0078] Within the normal range of physiological movements, it is expected that the magnet 43 will rotate fully approximately twice per day, and that a measurement will be taken every four hours with, for example, an electronic Hall-effect sensor 49, which detects the direction and magnitude of the magnetic field (FIG. 12). A microprocessor 48 in communication with the sensor 49 counts each time the field changes from north to south and relates that to one-half of the thread pitch, which gives a measure of the lengthening that has occurred. Alternately, a sensor could be worn by the patient continually and checked as often as desired.

[0079] In this embodiment of an intramedullary skeletal distractor 14 (FIG. 11a-d), the first 20 and second 32 cylindrical members and the elongated rod 42 are essentially as described above. However, here the rod 42 is coupled to the second cylindrical member 32 so that a relative rotational movement of the rod 42 is translated into a relative axial movement between the rod 42 and the second cylindrical member 32.

[0080] Specifically, the rod 42 has a threaded portion 426 that is positioned to engage a complementarily threaded portion 362 of the second cylindrical member's bore 334. Thus a rotation of the rod 43 effects a longitudinal movement between the rod 42 and the second cylindrical member 32.

[0081] This embodiment 14 further comprises a rotation-effecting means affixed to the elongated rod 42 that is responsive to an extracutaneous rotation-producing signal. In a specific embodiment, the rotation-effecting means comprises a material responsive to a magnetic signal, such as a magnet 45, so that an extracutaneous circumferentially directed magnetic signal causes a rotation of the responsive material and a corresponding rotation of the elongated rod 42.

[0082] In order to retain the elongated rod 42 within the bore of the first cylindrical member 20, a bushing 64 is provided that screws into a position adjacent the first cylindrical member's first end 202. The bushing 64 is dimensioned to fit over the elongated rod's first end 421 but not in movement-producing contact. A retaining screw 63 is then inserted into a threaded bore 423 in the rod's first end 421, serving to retain the bushing 64 in surrounding relation to the rod 42.

[0083] The method of using this embodiment of the invention, therefore, comprises the step of delivering a magnetic signal from a second magnet 47 to the magnet 45. The magnetic signal should have a circumferential component that is sufficient to drive the magnet 45 and rod 42 rotationally. Operationally, the second magnet 47 is positioned extracutaneously next to the limb containing the distractor 14 and is rotated in a direction to achieve lengthening (shown as a movement of the magnet 47 counterclockwise in FIG. 11).

[0084] In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clarity, and understanding, but no unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirements of the prior art, because such words are used for description purposes herein and are intended to be broadly construed. Moreover, the embodiments of the apparatus illustrated and described herein are by way of example, and the scope of the invention is not limited to the exact details of construction.

[0085] Having now described the invention, the construction, the operation and use of preferred embodiment thereof, and the advantageous new and useful results obtain thereby, the new and useful constructions, and reasonable mechanical equivalents thereof obvious to those skilled in the art, are set forth in the appended claims.