Expandable bone implant
First Claim
1. An implant insertion assembly, comprising:
- a first cannulated body having a distal end that is configured to be positioned adjacent a target bone, wherein the first cannulated body is substantially straight from the distal end to a proximal end spaced from the distal end;
an opening device that is elongate and configured to advance through the first cannulated body, the opening device defining a distal end that is configured to advance distally beyond the distal end of the first cannulated body and cut into the target bone, wherein at least a portion of the opening device located proximally from the distal end is configured to extend
1) substantially axially straight while located within the first cannulated body and
2) axially curved after extending beyond the distal end of the first cannulated body such that the distal end of the opening device cuts a curved guide path within the target bone;
a second cannulated body having a proximal end and a distal end that are spaced from each other, wherein the distal end of the second cannulated body is configured to be positioned adjacent the target bone at a location spaced from the distal end of the first cannulated body, wherein the second cannulated body is substantially straight from its proximal end to its distal end;
an aiming device having a body that defines a pair of apertures spaced from one another and each extending through the body, wherein the pair of apertures are configured to receive the first and second cannulated bodies, respectively, so that the distal end of the first cannulated body and the distal end of the second cannulated body are each positioned adjacent the target bone at a desired spacing relative to one another; and
an implant insertable within at least the first cannulated body and along the opening device and along the curved guide path within the target bone, the implant defining a central axis that is curved while the implant is positioned along the curved guide path, and the implant is expandable outwardly along a direction perpendicular to the central axis.
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Abstract
An expandable implant includes an implant body defining an internal void, the implant body including a plurality of interconnected linkages. A first plurality of the linkages has an expansion characteristic that is different from a second plurality of the linkages. An expandable bladder is sized to be disposed in the internal void. The bladder defines a bore configured to receive an expansion material, such that the expansion material applies an expansion force against the bladder, which thereby applies the expansion force against the implant body so as to cause the first linkage to expand greater than the second linkage. The expandable implant can be placed in a fracture location so as to restore height to a fractured target bone.
61 Citations
19 Claims
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1. An implant insertion assembly, comprising:
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a first cannulated body having a distal end that is configured to be positioned adjacent a target bone, wherein the first cannulated body is substantially straight from the distal end to a proximal end spaced from the distal end; an opening device that is elongate and configured to advance through the first cannulated body, the opening device defining a distal end that is configured to advance distally beyond the distal end of the first cannulated body and cut into the target bone, wherein at least a portion of the opening device located proximally from the distal end is configured to extend
1) substantially axially straight while located within the first cannulated body and
2) axially curved after extending beyond the distal end of the first cannulated body such that the distal end of the opening device cuts a curved guide path within the target bone;a second cannulated body having a proximal end and a distal end that are spaced from each other, wherein the distal end of the second cannulated body is configured to be positioned adjacent the target bone at a location spaced from the distal end of the first cannulated body, wherein the second cannulated body is substantially straight from its proximal end to its distal end; an aiming device having a body that defines a pair of apertures spaced from one another and each extending through the body, wherein the pair of apertures are configured to receive the first and second cannulated bodies, respectively, so that the distal end of the first cannulated body and the distal end of the second cannulated body are each positioned adjacent the target bone at a desired spacing relative to one another; and an implant insertable within at least the first cannulated body and along the opening device and along the curved guide path within the target bone, the implant defining a central axis that is curved while the implant is positioned along the curved guide path, and the implant is expandable outwardly along a direction perpendicular to the central axis. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification