Devices for controlling the unloading of superelastic and shape memory orthopedic implants

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10130358-B2
Application number	US-201615288108-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 7, 2016
Priority date	Oct 7, 2015
Publication date	Nov 20, 2018
Grant date	Nov 20, 2018

Abstract

This disclosure provides novel devices for controlling the unloading stress and recoverable strain of Nitinol devices and/or other shape memory material devices. The devices may be used to bring bone fragments into close proximity with each other, generate a compressive load between the bone fragments, and maintain that compressive load between the bone fragments while healing occurs.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for controlling an unloading stress of an orthopedic implant comprising:
deforming a shape memory material implant to generate a stress level and recoverable strain within the implant;
holding the implant in the deformed state with a retaining mechanism, wherein the retaining mechanism is configured to allow adjustment of stress and recoverable strain of the implant; and
inserting the deformed implant into pre-drilled holes in bone.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising adjusting the retaining mechanism to alter the stress level and recoverable strain.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the shape memory material is nitinol.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the implant is a staple.

5. The method of claim 3 , wherein the implant is a compression screw.

6. The method of claim 3 , wherein the implant is a compression plate.

7. The method of claim 3 , wherein the implant is an intramedullary implant.

8. The method of claim 3 further comprising adjusting the retaining mechanism to control the extent of staple legs opening to or beyond a parallel state.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the retaining mechanism comprises an internal retaining pin.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the implant is reversibly stretched prior to holding the implant with the retaining mechanism.

11. A method for controlling an unloading stress of an orthopedic implant comprising:
deforming a shape memory material implant to generate a stress level and recoverable strain within the implant;
holding the implant in the deformed state with a retaining mechanism;
adjusting the retaining mechanism to alter the stress level and recoverable strain; and
inserting the deformed implant into pre-drilled holes in bone.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the shape memory material is nitinol.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the implant is selected from the group consisting of a staple, a compression screw, an intramedullary implant, and a compression plate.

Assignees

• Arthrex Inc

Inventors

• Palmer Matthew
• Fonte Matthew
• Devaney Robert

Classifications

• A61B2017/00867

  shape memory effect · CPC title

• A61B17/0684

  having a forming anvil staying above the tissue during stapling · CPC title

• A61B17/7291

  for small bones, e.g. in the foot, ankle, hand or wrist · CPC title

• A61B17/8004

  with means for distracting or compressing the bone or bones · CPC title

• A61B17/7225

  for bone compression · CPC title