Elongated Fixation Element

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016113646-A1
Application number	US-201614990635-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 7, 2016
Priority date	Jan 14, 2011
Publication date	Apr 28, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A fixation device, comprises an elongated element extending along a central axis, having a total length L and including a proximal section formed of a material that is substantially non-absorbent for electromagnetic radiation within a preselected wavelength range and a distal section formed of a material that is substantially non-absorbent for electromagnetic radiation within the preselected wavelength range in combination with a middle section axially arranged between the proximal and distal sections, the middle section formed of a material that is substantially absorbent for electromagnetic radiation in the preselected wavelength range.

First claim

1 - 18 . (canceled)

19 . A method for producing a fixation device comprising the steps of:
producing an elongated element including a distal section, a middle section and a proximal section, each of the distal, middle and proximal sections formed separately by injection molding, wherein the proximal and distal sections are formed of a material that is substantially non-absorbent of electromagnetic radiation within a preselected wavelength range and the middle section axially arranged between the proximal and distal sections is formed of a material that is substantially absorbent of electromagnetic radiation within the preselected wavelength range; and fixing the distal section axially to one end of the middle section and the other end of the middle section to the proximal section to form the elongated fixation element by gluing.

20 . (canceled)

21 . A process for producing a fixation device comprising the steps of:
a) preparing a convertible mold for injection molding of a first part of an elongated element including a distal section and a proximal section connected to one another via a bridge; b) producing the first part by injection molding; c) converting the convertible mold for injection molding of a middle section onto the first part produced under step b); and d) producing the middle section onto the first part by injection molding, the middle section surrounding the bride of the first part, wherein the middle section is substantially absorbent of electromagnetic radiation in a preselected wavelength range.

22 - 23 . (canceled)

24 . A method for anchoring a suture to a bone, comprising the steps of:
inserting a suture through a transverse through hole of an elongated fixation element, the elongated fixation element including a proximal section and a distal section each of which include a material substantially non-absorbent of electromagnetic radiation in a preselected wavelength range and a middle section arranged axially between the proximal and distal sections, the middle section including a material that is substantially absorbent of electromagnetic radiation in the preselected wavelength range; inserting the elongated fixation element through the bone, distally past a near cortex of the bone; applying electromagnetic radiation within the preselected wavelength range to the elongated fixation element to soften the middle section; moving the elongated fixation element proximally such that the softened middle section is compressed against an inner surface of the near cortex; and allowing the elongated fixation element to cool such that the elongated fixation element is fixed within the bone.

Assignees

• Depuy Synthes Products Inc

Inventors

• Bouduban Nicolas
• Schmidli Dieter
• Gedet Philippe

Classifications

• A61B2018/00089

  Thermal conductivity · CPC title

• A61B17/0401 Primary

  Suture anchors, buttons or pledgets, i.e. means for attaching sutures to bone, cartilage or soft tissue; Instruments for applying or removing suture anchors (A61B17/0642 takes precedence; fixation devices for tendons or ligaments A61F2/0811) · CPC title

• A61B2018/00071

  Electrical conductivity · CPC title

• A61B17/0642

  for bones, e.g. for osteosynthesis or connecting tendon to bone · CPC title

• A61B2017/0409

  Instruments for applying suture anchors · CPC title