Method and apparatus for loading and implanting a shape memory implant
Inventors
Ritz, Joseph P. • Cheney, Daniel F. • Knight, Adam T.
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-10842487-B2
Publication Date
2020-11-24
Expiration Date
Abstract
An implant insertion device is designed for use with a shape memory implant movable between an unconstrained shape and an insertion shape. The implant insertion device maintains the shape memory implant in its insertion shape until the delivery of the shape memory implant into tissue or bone. Upon the release of the shape memory implant from the implant insertion device, the shape memory implant attempts to move from its insertion shape to its unconstrained shape, thereby releasing mechanical energy into the tissue or bone.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to an implant insertion device adapted for use with a shape memory implant movable between an unconstrained shape and an insertion shape. The implant insertion device maintains the shape memory implant in the insertion shape until delivery into tissue or bone. The device includes a body with a first jaw, a second jaw, a third jaw, and a fourth jaw, each adapted to engage the shape memory implant, with the jaws movable from a disengaged position to an engaged position.
The device further includes a slider coupled with the body, movable between an unclasped position and a clasped position. When the slider is in the clasped position, it maintains the first jaw, second jaw, third jaw, and fourth jaw in the engaged position, thereby maintaining the shape memory implant in the insertion shape. In the disengaged state, the jaws reside in opposed relationship.
The opposed jaw pairs include alignment interfaces having complementary angled faces, such that progression from the disengaged position to the engaged position moves the alignment interfaces into an abutting relationship. The complementary angled faces move the first jaw and second jaw in opposing linear directions to engage and maintain corresponding portions of the shape memory implant in the insertion shape, and a corresponding alignment interface arrangement moves the third jaw and fourth jaw in opposing linear directions to engage and maintain other portions of the shape memory implant in the insertion shape.
Claims Coverage
The document provides two independent claims. Each independent claim centers on a multi-jaw implant insertion device with alignment-interface-driven jaw engagement and a slider that maintains engagement until delivery, with claim-specific details about the implant geometry.
Multi-jaw slider-maintained insertion of shape memory implant
An implant insertion device adapted for use with a shape memory implant movable between an unconstrained shape and an insertion shape, maintaining the shape memory implant in the insertion shape until delivery into tissue or bone, including a body with first jaw, second jaw, third jaw, and fourth jaw movable from a disengaged position to an engaged position, and a slider movable between an unclasped position and a clasped position that maintains the jaws in the engaged position.
Complementary angled alignment interfaces move jaw pairs in opposing linear directions
The first jaw resides in opposed relationship with the second jaw, and first and second jaws include alignment interfaces having complementary angled faces such that progression to the engaged position moves the alignment interfaces into an abutting relationship and moves the first jaw and second jaw in opposing linear directions to engage the shape memory implant and maintain it in the insertion shape; and similarly the third jaw resides in opposed relationship with the fourth jaw with complementary angled-faced alignment interfaces to move the third jaw and fourth jaw in opposing linear directions to engage the shape memory implant and maintain it in the insertion shape.
Leg parallelism and non-parallel to parallel transformation for bridge-interconnected legs
An implant insertion device adapted for use with a shape memory implant comprising a bridge interconnecting a first leg, a second leg, and a third leg, wherein the first, second, and third legs are non-parallel when the shape memory implant resides in the unconstrained shape and are substantially parallel when the shape memory implant resides in the insertion shape; the device maintains the shape memory implant in the insertion shape until delivery into tissue or bone, including a body with first jaw, second jaw, third jaw, and fourth jaw movable from a disengaged position to an engaged position, and a slider movable between an unclasped position and a clasped position maintaining the jaws in the engaged position.
Leg-specific alignment interfaces maintain substantially parallel legs
The first jaw includes a leg interface and the second jaw includes a leg interface; the first and second jaws include alignment interfaces having complementary angled faces such that progression to the engaged position moves the alignment interfaces into an abutting relationship and moves the first and second jaws in opposing linear directions so the leg interface of the first jaw engages the first leg and the leg interface of the second jaw engages the second leg to maintain the first leg and second leg substantially parallel. The third and fourth jaws similarly include complementary angled-faced alignment interfaces such that progression to the engaged position moves the third and fourth jaws in opposing linear directions so the leg interface of the third jaw engages the first leg and the leg interface of the fourth jaw engages the third leg to maintain the first leg and third leg substantially parallel.
Across both independent claims, the inventive coverage focuses on maintaining a shape memory implant in the insertion shape using four jaws that move between disengaged and engaged positions, alignment interfaces with complementary angled faces that create abutting relationships and opposing linear jaw motions, and a slider that moves between unclasped and clasped positions to maintain jaw engagement until delivery; claim-specific features further tie jaw and leg interfaces to maintaining substantially parallel legs of a bridge-interconnected three-leg shape memory implant.
Stated Advantages
Maintains the shape memory implant in the insertion shape until delivery into tissue or bone.
Documented Applications
Delivery of a shape memory implant into tissue or bone using the implant insertion device that maintains the implant in the insertion shape until delivery.
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