Device and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017296243-A1
Application number	US-201515512592-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 23, 2015
Priority date	Sep 23, 2014
Publication date	Oct 19, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

A device for modulating biological tissue and/or bone conformation, the device including a shape memory material and being capable of modulating biological tissue and/or bone conformation simultaneously in at least two dimensions, a process for producing the device, a process for modulating biological tissue and/or bone using the device, and uses thereof.

First claim

1 . A device for modulating biological tissue and/or bone conformation, the device comprising a shape memory material and being capable of modulating biological tissue and/or bone conformation simultaneously in at least 2 dimensions.

2 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the device is capable of modulating at least one of biological tissue and bone conformation simultaneously in 3 dimensions.

3 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the shape memory material is arranged into a predetermined 3-dimensional conformation.

4 . The device according to claim 3 , wherein the shape memory material is a continuous sheet arranged in the predetermined 3-dimensional conformation.

5 . The device according to claim 3 , wherein the shape memory material is a mesh or web arranged in the predetermined 3-dimensional conformation.

6 . The device according to claim 5 , wherein the mesh or web comprises a network of geometric shapes.

7 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the shape memory material comprises a shape memory alloy and/or a shape memory polymer.

8 . The device according to claim 7 , wherein the shape memory material comprises a shape memory alloy.

9 . The device according to claim 8 , wherein the shape memory alloy is an alloy of nickel and titanium.

10 . The device according to claim 9 , wherein the shape memory alloy is nitinol.

11 . The device according to claim 1 , for use in the modulation of at least one of biological tissue and bone conformation.

12 . The device for use according to claim 11 in calvarial remodeling.

13 . A process for producing a device for modulating biological tissue and/or bone conformation, the process comprising:
(i) determining the current and desired conformations of the biological tissue and/or bone; (ii) shaping a device comprising a shape memory material into the desired conformation at a temperature around or above body temperature; and (iii) moulding the device into the current biological tissue and/or bone conformation at a temperature below body temperature.

14 . The process according to claim 13 , wherein the determination of the current conformation of the biological tissue and/or bone is conducted using computed tomography.

15 . The process according to claim 13 , wherein the determination of the desired conformation of the biological tissue and/or bone is conducted using a principal component analysis-derived, computer-generated template.

16 . The process according to claim 13 , wherein shaping of the device is conducted at a temperature between the forming temperature of the shape memory material and slightly below the melting point of the shape memory material.

17 . The process according to claim 13 , wherein the device comprising a shape memory material is a device according to claim 1 .

18 . A process for modulating biological tissue and/or bone, the process comprising:
(i) optionally surgically weakening the tissue and/or bone to be treated, such as by making one or more scores to an area of the tissue and/or bone, and (ii) attaching the device of claim 1 to the tissue and/or bone to be modulated and allowing it to warm to body temperature.

19 . The device according to claim 1 , further including a plurality of pins and/or screws for attaching the device to a section of biological tissue and/or bone to be modulated.

20 . The device for use according to claim 11 in at least one of posterior vault expansion, craniosynostosis and sagittal synostosis.

Assignees

• Ucl Business Plc

Inventors

• Dunaway David
• Borghi Alessandro
• Jeelani Owase
• Schievano Silvia

Classifications

• A61B2017/681

  Alignment, compression, or distraction mechanisms · CPC title

• A61B17/68

  Internal fixation devices {, including fasteners and spinal fixators, even if a part thereof projects from the skin (bone staples A61B17/0642)} · CPC title

• A61F2002/30092

  using shape memory or superelastic materials, e.g. nitinol · CPC title

• A61F2002/30948

  using computerized tomography, i.e. CT scans · CPC title

• A61B17/8085 Primary

  with pliable or malleable elements or having a mesh-like structure, e.g. small strips (A61B17/8071, A61B17/8076 take precedence) · CPC title