Method and apparatus for a shape memory implant

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11006949-B2
Application number	US-201816225336-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 19, 2018
Priority date	Dec 19, 2018
Publication date	May 18, 2021
Grant date	May 18, 2021

Abstract

An apparatus for fixating bone includes an orthopedic implant. The orthopedic implant may be manufactured from a shape memory material such that the orthopedic implant is moveable between a natural shape and an insertion shape. The orthopedic implant defines at least a first cannulation therethrough adapted to deliver a bone augmentation material to the bone. The orthopedic implant implants into the bone in its insertion shape. After implantation of the orthopedic implant, the first cannulation facilitates delivery into the bone of a bone augmentation material that augments the bone. The orthopedic implant once implanted attempts to transition from its insertion shape to its natural shape such that the orthopedic implant fixates the bone.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An apparatus for fixating bone, comprising:
an orthopedic implant comprised of a shape memory material and adapted for implantation into the bone, wherein the orthopedic implant is moveable between a natural shape and an insertion shape, the orthopedic implant, comprising:
a bridge,
a first leg extending from the bridge, the bridge and the first leg defining a first cannulation therethrough, whereby the first cannulation includes an inlet in the bridge and at least one outlet in the first leg, further whereby the first cannulation traverses the bridge and the first leg to deliver a bone augmentation material into the bone around the first leg,
a second leg extending from the bridge, the bridge and the second leg defining a second cannulation therethrough, whereby the second cannulation includes an inlet in the bridge and at least one outlet in the second leg, further whereby the second cannulation traverses the bridge and the second leg to deliver a bone augmentation material into the bone around the second leg, and
the first and second legs reside in a natural position when the orthopedic implant resides in its natural shape and in an insertion position when the orthopedic implant resides in its insertion shape; and

the orthopedic implant implants into the bone in its insertion shape such that the first and second legs implant into the bone in their insertion position with the bridge traversing a fixation zone of the bone, wherein, after implantation of the orthopedic implant, a bone augmentation material delivered into the bone via the first cannulation and the second cannulation augments the bone, further wherein the orthopedic implant attempts transition from its insertion shape to its natural shape while the first and second legs attempt transition from their insertion position to their natural position such that the orthopedic implant fixates the bone.

2. The apparatus for fixating bone according to claim 1 , wherein the bridge comprises at least one transition section including a natural form when the orthopedic implant resides in its natural shape that locates the first and second legs in their natural position and an insertion form when the orthopedic implant resides in its insertion shape that locates the first and second legs in their insertion shape.

3. The apparatus for fixating bone according to claim 1 , wherein:
the bridge includes a first end and a second end;
the first leg extends from the bridge adjacent its first end; and
the second leg extends from the bridge adjacent its second end.

4. The apparatus for fixating bone according to claim 3 , comprising:
a third leg extending from the bridge between the first leg and a central axis of the bridge, wherein the bridge and the third leg define a third cannulation adapted to deliver a bone augmentation material to the bone; and
a fourth leg extending from the bridge between the second leg and a central axis of the bridge, wherein the bridge and the fourth leg define a fourth cannulation adapted to deliver a bone augmentation material to the bone.

5. The apparatus for fixating bone according to claim 4 , wherein:
the third cannulation includes an inlet in the bridge and at least one outlet in the third leg whereby the third cannulation traverses the bridge and the third leg to deliver a bone augmentation material into the bone around the third leg; and
the fourth cannulation includes an inlet in the bridge and at least one outlet in the fourth leg whereby the fourth cannulation traverses the bridge and the fourth leg to deliver a bone augmentation material into the bone around the fourth leg.

6. The apparatus for fixating bone according to claim 3 , comprising a third leg extending from the bridge at its first end, wherein the third leg resides adjacent the first leg, further wherein the bridge and the third leg define a third cannulation adapted to deliver a bone augmentation material to the bone.

7. The apparatus for fixating bone according to claim 6 , wherein the third cannulation includes an inlet in the bridge and at least one outlet in the third leg whereby the third cannulation traverses the bridge and the third leg to deliver a bone augmentation material into the bone around the third leg.

8. The apparatus for fixating bone according to claim 6 , comprising a fourth leg extending from the bridge at its second end, wherein the fourth leg resides adjacent the second leg, further wherein the bridge and the fourth leg define a fourth cannulation adapted to deliver a bone augmentation material to the bone.

9. The apparatus for fixating bone according to claim 8 , wherein the fourth cannulation includes an inlet in the bridge and at least one outlet in the fourth leg whereby the fourth cannulation traverses the bridge and the fourth leg to deliver a bone augmentation material into the bone around the fourth leg.

10. The apparatus for fixating bone according to claim 3 , wherein:
the bridge includes a first aperture adjacent a first end thereof adapted to receive therethrough a fixation device that engages the bone;
the bridge includes a second aperture adjacent a second end thereof adapted to receive therethrough a fixation device that engages the bone;
the first leg extends from the bridge between the first aperture and a central axis of the bridge; and
the second leg extends from the bridge between the second aperture and a central axis of the bridge.

11. An orthopedic implant for fixating bone, the orthopedic implant comprising a shape memory material and adapted for implantation into the bone, whereby the orthopedic implant is moveable between a natural shape and an insertion shape, the orthopedic implant, comprising:
a bridge;
a first leg extending from the bridge;
a second leg extending from the bridge, wherein the first and second legs reside in a natural position when the orthopedic implant resides in its natural shape, further wherein the first and second legs reside in an insertion position when the orthopedic implant resides in its insertion shape;
the bridge and the first leg defining a first cannulation adapted to deliver a bone augmentation material to the bone, whereby the first cannulation includes an inlet in the bridge and at least one outlet in the first leg, further whereby the first cannulation traverses the bridge and the first leg to deliver the bone augmentation material into the bone around the first leg;
the bridge and the second leg defining a second cannulation adapted to deliver a bone augmentation material to the bone, whereby the second cannulation includes an inlet in the bridge and at least one outlet in the second leg, further whereby the second cannulation traverses the bridge and the second leg to deliver the bone augmentation material into the bone around the second leg; and
the first and second legs implant into the bone in their insertion position with the bridge traversing a fixation zone of the bone, wherein, after implantation of the orthopedic implant:
a bone augmentation material delivered into the bone via the first and second cannulations augments the bone, and
the orthopedic implant attempts transition from its insertion shape to its natural shape whereby the first and second legs attempt movement from their insertion position to their natural position such that the orthopedic implant fixates the bone.

12. The orthopedic implant for fixating bone according to claim 11 , wherein the bridge comprises at least one transition section including a natural form when the orthopedic implant resides in its natural shape that locates the first and second legs in their natural position and an insertion form when the orthope

Assignees

• Depuy Synthes Products Inc
• Depuy Synthesis Products Inc

Inventors

• DANIEL Steffan

Classifications

• A61L2430/02

  for reconstruction of bones; weight-bearing implants · CPC title

• A61L2400/16

  Materials with shape-memory or superelastic properties · CPC title

• A61L31/16

  Biologically active materials, e.g. therapeutic substances {(A61L31/047 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• A61L31/14

  Materials characterised by their function or physical properties {, e.g. injectable or lubricating compositions, shape-memory materials, surface modified materials} · CPC title

• A61L31/022

  Metals or alloys · CPC title