Orthopedic implant and method of use thereof

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12220156-B2
Application number	US-202217825526-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 26, 2022
Priority date	May 26, 2022
Publication date	Feb 11, 2025
Grant date	Feb 11, 2025

Abstract

An orthopedic implant system adapted to fixate bone includes a bridge with first and second bores therethrough and first and second elastic members extending from the bridge respectively into the first bore and the second bore. During insertion respectively of anchoring devices through the first and second bores and into the bone, the anchoring devices respectively contact the first and second elastic members and depress the first and second elastic members respectively into the first and second bores such that the first and second elastic members deform to store energy therein while transitioning from a natural shape to a fixation shape. After insertion of the anchoring devices, the first and second elastic members, in attempted transitions from the fixation shape to the natural shape, respectively deliver the energy stored therein to the anchoring devices such that the anchoring devices urge the bone into a fixation position.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An orthopedic implant adapted to fixate bone, comprising:
a bridge, including:
a first bore therethrough defined by a bore wall in the bridge, the first bore being configured to include a diameter greater than a diameter of a first anchoring device adapted for insertion through the first bore such that, upon insertion of the first anchoring device through the first bore and into the bone, the first anchoring device remains spaced apart from the bore wall defining the first bore, and
a second bore therethrough defined by a bore wall in the bridge, the second bore being configured to include a diameter greater than a diameter of a second anchoring device adapted for insertion through the second bore such that, upon insertion of the second anchoring device through the second bore and into the bone, the second anchoring device remains spaced apart from the bore wall defining the second bore;

a first elastic member including a first end and a second end, the first elastic member comprising a cantilever whereby the first end is connected with the bridge whereas the second end is a free end extending into the first bore from the bridge, the first elastic member being configured whereby, during insertion of the first anchoring device through the first bore and into the bone, the first anchoring device contacts the first elastic member and depresses the first elastic member into the first bore such that the first elastic member deforms to store energy therein while transitioning from a natural shape to a fixation shape, and, after insertion of the first anchoring device, the first elastic member, in an attempted transition from the fixation shape to the natural shape, delivers the energy stored therein to the first anchoring device such that the first anchoring device urges the bone into a fixation position; and
a second elastic member including a first end and a second end, the second elastic member comprising a cantilever whereby the first end is connected with the bridge whereas the second end is a free end extending into the second bore from the bridge, the second elastic member being configured whereby, during insertion of the second anchoring device through the second bore and into the bone, the second anchoring device contacts the second elastic member and depresses the second elastic member into the second bore such that the second elastic member deforms to store energy therein while transitioning from a natural shape to a fixation shape, and, after insertion of the second anchoring device, the second elastic member, in an attempted transition from the fixation shape to the natural shape, delivers the energy stored therein to the second anchoring device such that the second anchoring device urges the bone into the fixation position.

2. The orthopedic implant adapted to fixate bone of claim 1 , wherein:
the first elastic member, due to the first anchoring device being spaced apart from the bore wall defining the first bore, delivers the energy stored therein to the first anchoring device such that the first anchoring device urges the bone into the fixation position; and
the second elastic member, due to the second anchoring device being spaced apart from the bore wall defining the second bore, delivers the energy stored therein to the second anchoring device such that the second anchoring device urges the bone into the fixation position.

3. The orthopedic implant adapted to fixate bone of claim 1 , wherein:
the first elastic member, due to the first anchoring device being spaced apart from the bore wall defining the first bore, moves towards the natural shape in response to a structural change in the bone such that the first elastic member moves the first anchoring device towards the bore wall defining the first bore such that the first anchoring device continues to urge the bone into the fixation position; and
the second elastic member, due to the second anchoring device being spaced apart from the bore wall defining the second bore, moves towards the natural shape in response to a structural change in the bone such that the second elastic member moves the second anchoring device towards the bore wall defining the second bore such that the second anchoring device continues to urge the bone into the fixation position.

4. The orthopedic implant adapted to fixate bone of claim 3 , wherein:
the first elastic member moves the first anchoring device towards the bore wall defining the first bore until the first anchoring device moves to compensate for the structural change in the bone, whereby the first elastic member ceases moving while continuing to deliver the energy stored therein to the first anchoring device such that the first anchoring device continues to urge the bone into the fixation position; and
the second elastic member moves the second anchoring device towards the bore wall defining the second bore until the second anchoring device moves to compensate for the structural change in the bone, whereby the second elastic member ceases moving while continuing to deliver the energy stored therein to the second anchoring device such that the second anchoring device continues to urge the bone into the fixation position.

5. An orthopedic implant adapted to fixate bone, comprising:
a bridge, including:
a first bore therethrough defined by a bore wall in the bridge including an outer wall section and an inner wall section, the first bore being configured to include a diameter greater than a diameter of a first anchoring device adapted for insertion through the first bore such that, upon insertion of the first anchoring device through the first bore and into the bone, the first anchoring device remains spaced apart from the bore wall defining the first bore, and
a second bore therethrough defined by a bore wall in the bridge including an outer wall section and an inner wall section, the second bore being configured to include a diameter greater than a diameter of a second anchoring device adapted for insertion through the second bore such that, upon insertion of the second anchoring device through the second bore and into the bone, the second anchoring device remains spaced apart from the bore wall defining the second bore;

a first elastic member extending into the first bore from the bridge at the outer wall section, the first elastic member being configured whereby, during insertion of the first anchoring device through the first bore and into the bone, the first anchoring device contacts the first elastic member and depresses the first elastic member into the first bore such that the first elastic member deforms to store energy therein while transitioning from a natural shape to a fixation shape, and, after insertion of the first anchoring device, the first elastic member, in an attempted transition from the fixation shape to the natural shape, delivers the energy stored therein to the first anchoring device such that the first anchoring device urges the bone to create compression thereof;
the first elastic member, due to the first anchoring device being spaced apart from the bore wall defining the first bore, moves towards the natural shape in response to a structural change in the bone such that the first elastic member moves the first anchoring device towards the inner wall section the bore wall defining the first bore such that the first anchoring device continues to urge the bone to create compression thereof;
the first elastic member moves the first anchoring device towards the inner wall section of the bore wall defining the first bore until the first anchoring device moves to compensate for the structural change in the bone, whereby the first elastic member ceases moving while continuing to deliver the energy stored therein to the first anchoring device such that the first anchorin

Assignees

• Depuy Synthes Products Inc

Inventors

• Downey David
• Pancratz David

Classifications

• A61B17/8014

  the extension or compression force being caused by interaction of the plate hole and the screws · CPC title

• A61B2017/00867

  shape memory effect · CPC title

• A61B17/8052

  immobilised relative to screws by interlocking form of the heads and plate holes, e.g. conical or threaded · CPC title

• A61B17/8047 Primary

  wherein the additional element surrounds the screw head in the plate hole (A61B17/8052 takes precedence) · CPC title