Method and appparatus for an intramedullary implant and method of implantation therefor
Inventors
Cheney, Daniel F. • Pancratz, David J.
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-9775656-B2
Publication Date
2017-10-03
Expiration Date
Abstract
An intramedullary orthopedic implant includes a body section having a first end that provides a point of insertion for the body section and a second end. The body section further includes wings extending away from the point of insertion for the body section. The intramedullary orthopedic implant further includes first and second legs extending from the second end of the body section. The first and second legs begin in a first implanted shape, are movable to a second insertion shape, and remain in the second insertion shape as long as the first and second legs are mechanically constrained.
Core Innovation
The invention provides an intramedullary orthopedic implant for fixating a first bone and a second bone. The implant includes a body section with a first end that provides a point of insertion and a second end. The body section has wings extending outward and away from the point of insertion, and the wings begin in a first open insertion shape and are movable to an implanted shape.
The implant also includes first and second legs extending from the second end of the body section. The first and second legs begin in a first implanted shape, are movable to a second insertion shape, and remain in the second insertion shape as long as the first and second legs are mechanically constrained. The wings and legs are configured to create anchoring forces when moved from insertion shapes to implanted shapes within intramedullary canals.
A method of fixating the bones is described using intramedullary canals and mechanical constraint and release. An intramedullary canal in the first bone is prepared to have a reduced diameter relative to the wings in their first open insertion shape so that the canal flexes the wings toward the body section and moves them to their implanted shape. After anchoring the wings in the first bone, the first and second legs are inserted into the intramedullary canal in the second bone, and the mechanical constraint is removed such that the legs move from the second insertion shape to the first implanted shape, thereby creating anchoring forces that compress the first bone with the second bone.
Claims Coverage
The partial content identifies one independent claim (method) describing a complete fixating procedure using a specific implant structure with wings and movable legs, including two main inventive features: shape change of wings driven by a reduced-diameter canal and shape change of legs controlled by mechanical constraint release, resulting in anchoring forces and compression of the bones.
Wings flexed from open insertion shape by reduced-diameter intramedullary canal
Providing an intramedullary orthopedic implant with wings that begin in a first open insertion shape and are movable to an implanted shape, and preparing an intramedullary canal in the first bone having a reduced diameter relative to the wings in their first open insertion shape such that the intramedullary canal flexes the wings toward the body section to move the wings to their implanted shape and conform the wings with the shape of the intramedullary canal in the first bone, thereby creating an anchoring force between the wings and the first bone and anchoring the wings within the intramedullary canal in the first bone.
Mechanically constrained legs moved from second insertion shape to implanted shape for anchoring and compression
Providing first and second legs that begin in a first implanted shape, are movable to a second insertion shape, and remain in the second insertion shape as long as the first and second legs are mechanically constrained; mechanically constraining the legs in the second insertion shape; inserting the first and second legs into the intramedullary canal in the second bone; and removing the mechanical constraint such that the first and second legs move from the second insertion shape to the first implanted shape, thereby creating an anchoring force between the first and second legs and the second bone and anchoring the first and second legs within the intramedullary canal in the second bone such that the first bone compresses with the second bone.
Body section insertion into first bone with wings in open insertion shape
Providing a body section having a first end that provides a point of insertion for the body section and a second end, and inserting the body section into the intramedullary canal in the first bone beginning at the point of insertion and with the wings in their first open insertion shape.
Across the independent method claim, fixation is achieved by using a reduced-diameter intramedullary canal in the first bone to flex wings from a first open insertion shape to an implanted shape for anchoring, and by using mechanical constraint and removal to move legs from a second insertion shape to a first implanted shape in the second bone for anchoring and compression.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Not explicitly described in patent.
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