Methods of using a shape-formable apparatus comprising locking sheets

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10864104-B2
Application number	US-201515534131-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 14, 2015
Priority date	Dec 19, 2014
Publication date	Dec 15, 2020
Grant date	Dec 15, 2020

Abstract

Method of using a shape-formable apparatus. A shape-formable apparatus can include an envelope defining a chamber, a port positioned to fluidly couple the chamber with ambience, and at least two locking sheets positioned in the chamber in an at least partially overlapping configuration. Each locking sheet can include a major surface, and at least a portion of each locking sheet can be patterned to include solid regions and open regions, the solid regions being movable with respect to one another within the major surface. The method can include providing the shape-formable apparatus in a first state; forming the apparatus into a desired shape; and reducing the pressure in the chamber to change the apparatus from the first state to a second state in which the apparatus is substantially less formable than in the first state.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of using a shape-formable apparatus, the method comprising:
providing a shape-formable apparatus in a first state in which the apparatus is formable, the shape-formable apparatus comprising:
an envelope defining a chamber, the envelope formed of a gas-impermeable material;
a port positioned to fluidly couple the chamber with ambience; and
at least two locking sheets positioned in the chamber in an at least partially overlapping configuration, wherein each locking sheet comprises a major surface, and wherein at least a portion of each locking sheet is patterned to include solid regions and open regions, the solid regions of the same locking sheet are configured to move with respect to one another within the major surface of the same locking sheet, wherein the solid regions include a plurality of islands connected by one or more bridges, each island having an octagonal shape with one or more octagonal edges being connected to the one or more bridges;

forming the apparatus into a desired shape when the apparatus is in the first state; and
reducing a pressure in the chamber to change the apparatus from the first state to a second state in which the apparatus has the desired shape and is substantially less formable than in the first state.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein forming the apparatus into the desired shape includes forming the apparatus at least partially over a tissue or organ.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein providing the shape-formable apparatus includes providing a sheet-like shape-formable apparatus.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising increasing the pressure in the chamber to change the apparatus from the second state at least partially back to the first state.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein reducing the pressure in the chamber includes reducing the pressure below ambient pressure.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein forming the apparatus into the desired shape includes forming the at least two locking sheets into the desired shape.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein forming the apparatus into the desired shape includes moving the at least two locking sheets relative to one another in the chamber.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein forming the apparatus into the desired shape includes moving solid regions in at least one locking sheet relative to other solid regions in the same locking sheet, within the major surface, from a first position to a second position to be maintained, without plastic deformation, after an applied force is removed.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the solid regions of at least one locking sheet are formed of a material having an effective tensile modulus (E o ), and wherein the solid regions and open regions are arranged in the at least one locking sheet such that the at least one locking sheet has an overall effective tensile modulus (E 1 ), and wherein the ratio of E o /E 1 for the at least one locking sheet is at least 2.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least two locking sheets are oriented substantially parallel with respect to one another.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein reducing the pressure in the chamber to change the apparatus from the first state to the second state includes increasing the stiffness of the apparatus by at least a factor of 2.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein reducing the pressure in the chamber to change the apparatus from the first state to the second state includes increasing an effective tensile modulus of the apparatus by at least a factor of 2.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein forming the apparatus into the desired shape when the apparatus is in the first state includes substantially conforming the apparatus to a complex surface having a non-zero Gaussian curvature.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein forming the apparatus into the desired shape when the apparatus is in the first state includes moving the at least two locking sheets relative to one another in the chamber.

15. The method of claim 1 , wherein reducing the pressure in the chamber includes causing two or more locking sheets to inter-engage.

16. The method of claim 1 , wherein the islands are arranged in staggered rows and staggered columns.

17. The method of claim 1 , wherein every other octagonal edge of each island is connected to one or more of the bridges.

Assignees

• 3M Innovative Properties Co

Inventors

• Corrigan Thomas R
• Egeland Marc A
• Dombrowski Alan R

Classifications

• A61F5/01

  Orthopaedic devices, e.g. long-term immobilising or pressure directing devices for treating broken or deformed bones such as splints, casts or braces · CPC title

• A61B2017/00889

  antimicrobial, disinfectant · CPC title

• A61B2090/0801

  Prevention of accidental cutting or pricking · CPC title

• A61F5/05833 Primary

  Splints rigidified by vacuum evacuation · CPC title

• B65D81/02

  specially adapted to protect contents from mechanical damage {(containers of polygonal cross-section provided with internal protecting elements for contents B65D5/50; devices to locate articles in containers B65D25/10)} · CPC title