Assessment of tension between bone anchors
Inventors
Prygoski, Matthew • Detlefsen, Richard • Tozakoglou, Evangelos • Daniluck, John V.
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-11883243-B2
Publication Date
2024-01-30
Expiration Date
Abstract
A system for interconnecting bones includes an implantable member configured to be mechanically coupled to a first bone, configured to be mechanically coupled to a second bone, configured to provide substantially no resistance to compression of the implantable member, configured to support a tensile load within a predetermined range of tensile loads extending from a first load to a second load, configured to have a predetermined elasticity within the range of tensile loads, configured to have a first characteristic at the first load, and configured to have a second characteristic at the second load. The system also includes a means for measuring the first characteristic and the second characteristic. And the system includes a means for calculating a tension between the first bone and the second bone based on the first characteristic and the second characteristic.
Core Innovation
The disclosure describes an orthopedic system for interconnecting bones using an implantable member configured to be mechanically coupled to a first bone and a second bone. The implantable member provides substantially no resistance to compression, while supporting a tensile load within a predetermined range extending from a first load to a second load, and has a predetermined elasticity within the range of tensile loads. The implantable member has a first width at the first load and a second width at the second load, each generally transverse to the tensile load at the corresponding load.
The system measures the first width and the second width and calculates a tension between the first bone and the second bone based on the first width and the second width. In certain embodiments, the tension calculation is based on a Poisson effect, linking tensile load in the implantable member to measurable geometric change, such as width change transverse to the load.
A further aspect of the disclosure uses an elastically deformable coupling connecting a first bone anchor to a second bone anchor, with optical observation of the coupling width to generate data for tension computation. Optical observation and computing devices are used to generate data based on the observed width and then calculate tension between the bone anchors based on the data, including embodiments that narrow the tension calculation to a Poisson effect and that implement the computing device as a smart phone.
Claims Coverage
The partial content provides two independent claims. Across these claims, the inventive features center on an implantable/tether member that provides substantially no resistance to compression while supporting tensile load in a predetermined range and calculating tension between bones from optical measurements of transverse width changes, including calculating based on a Poisson effect.
Implantable member with compression compliance and width-based tension range
An implantable member configured to be mechanically coupled to a first bone and to a second bone, configured to provide substantially no resistance to compression of the implantable member, configured to support a tensile load within a predetermined range of tensile loads extending from a first load to a second load, configured to have a predetermined elasticity within the range of tensile loads, and configured to have a first width at the first load and a second width at the second load, the first width and the second width being generally transverse to the tensile load at the corresponding load.
Measuring and calculating tension from first and second width
A means for measuring the first width and the second width; and a means for calculating a tension between the first bone and the second bone based on the first width and the second width.
Elastically deformable coupling between bone anchors with optical width observation
A first bone anchor; a second bone anchor; an elastically deformable coupling connecting the first bone anchor to the second bone anchor, having a length extending between the first bone anchor and the second bone anchor, and having a width being generally transverse to the length; an optical device configured to observe the width and to generate data based thereon; and a computing device configured to calculate a tension between the first bone anchor and the second bone anchor based on the data.
Overall, the claim coverage ties tensile loading to observable transverse width characteristics of an implantable elastically deformable connector and computes tension between bones from optical width data, with Poisson-effect based calculation identified in dependent claim refinements within the provided partial content.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Not explicitly described in patent.
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