METHODS AND DEVICES FOR INTRACORPOREAL BONDING OF IMPLANTS WITH THERMAL ENERGY

• US 20080021474A1
• Filed: 03/22/2007
• Published: 01/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: P TECH, LLC
• Original Assignee: P TECH, LLC
• Inventors: Bonutti, Peter, Beyers, Justin, Cremens, Matthew
• Granted Patent: US 9,610,073 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/64
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0401 Suture anchors, buttons or pledgets, i.e. means for attaching sutures to bone, cartilage or soft tissue; Instruments for applying or removing suture anchors A61B17/0642 takes precedence; fixation devices for tendons or ligaments A61F2/0811
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/11 for performing anastomosis; Buttons for anastomosis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1128 of nerves
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1146 of tendons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1721 for applying pins along or parallel to the axis of the femoral neck
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1742 for the hip
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/320068 using mechanical vibrations, e.g. ultrasonic A61B17/22012 takes precedence; dental tooth drilling devices operated by vibration A61C3/03; removing intra-ocular material using mechanical vibrations A61F9/00745
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/686 Plugs, i.e. elements forming interface between bone hole and implant or fastener, e.g. screw
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7032 Screws or hooks with U-shaped head or back through which longitudinal rods pass
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7058 Plates mounted on top of bone anchor heads or shoulders
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7059 Cortical plates A61B17/7007, A61B17/7058 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7062 Devices acting on, attached to, or simulating the effect of, vertebral processes, vertebral facets or ribs rib fixation devices A61B17/8076; Tools for such devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/72 Intramedullary pins, nails or other devices A61B17/744 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7233 with special means of locking the nail to the bone
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/725 with locking pins or screws of special form
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/80 Cortical plates , i.e. bone plates; Instruments for holding or positioning cortical plates, or for compressing bones attached to cortical plates
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8033 having indirect contact with screw heads, or having contact with screw heads maintained with the aid of additional components, e.g. nuts, wedges or head covers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8038 the additional component being inserted in the screw head
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/82 for bone cerclage apparatus for manipulating wires or straps A61B17/8861; wires, bands or straps other than cerclage A61B17/842
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/844 with expandable anchors or anchors having movable parts
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/861 : specially shaped for gripping driver
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/866 : Material or manufacture
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8685 : comprising multiple separate parts
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/88 : Osteosynthesis instruments; Methods or means for implanting or extracting internal or external fixation devices A61B17/7074 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8863 : Apparatus for shaping or cutting osteosynthesis equipment by medical personnel
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00004 : (bio)absorbable, (bio)resorbable, resorptive for implantable prostheses A61F2210/0004
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00022 : Sensing or detecting at the treatment site
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00504 : Tissue welding
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00955 : thermoplastic
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0409 : Instruments for applying suture anchors for applying suture clamps, clips or locks A61B2017/0488
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0432 : the separate member staying in the anchor after placement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0437 : the barbs being resilient or spring-like
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/044 : with a threaded shaft, e.g. screws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/045 : snug fit within the anchor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0454 : the anchor being crimped or clamped on the suture
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/8655 : with special features for locking in the bone
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/30756 : Cartilage endoprostheses A61F2/3603 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/32 : for the hip
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/3603 : implanted without ablation of the whole natural femoral head endoprosthetic cartilage A61F2/30756
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/38 : for elbows or knees
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/3804 : for elbows
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/3859 : Femoral components
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/389 : Tibial components A61F2/3868 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/40 : for shoulders
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4081 : Glenoid components, e.g. cups
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4202 : for ankles
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4455 : for the fusion of spinal bodies, e.g. intervertebral fusion of adjacent spinal bodies, e.g. fusion cages intervertebral discs A61F2/442
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4465 : having a circular or kidney shaped cross-section substantially perpendicular to the axis of the spine
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/468 : Testing instruments for artificial joints for testing non-implantable prostheses A61F2/76
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/2817 : Bone stimulation by chemical reactions or by osteogenic or biological products for enhancing ossification, e.g. by bone morphogenetic or morphogenic proteins [BMP] or by transforming growth factors [TGF]
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30062 : (bio)absorbable, biodegradable, bioerodable, (bio)resorbable, resorptive
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30065 : thermoplastic, i.e. softening or fusing when heated, and hardening and becoming rigid again when cooled
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30133 : kidney-shaped or bean-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30451 : soldered or brazed or welded
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30604 : modular
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30677 : Means for introducing or releasing pharmaceutical products, e.g. antibiotics, into the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3068 : the pharmaceutical product being in a reservoir
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30785 : parallel
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30787 : inclined obliquely with respect to each other
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30878 : with non-sharp protrusions, for instance contacting the bone for anchoring, e.g. keels, pegs, pins, posts, shanks, stems, struts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30892 : parallel
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30894 : inclined obliquely with respect to each other
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30971 : Laminates, i.e. layered products
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30973 : Two joined adjacent layers having complementary interlocking protrusions and recesses
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3401 : with radial apertures, e.g. radial bores for receiving fixation screws
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3403 : Polar aperture
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/444 : for replacing the nucleus pulposus
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/828 : Means for connecting a plurality of stents allowing flexibility of the whole structure
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/0004 : bioabsorbable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/0071 : thermoplastic
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0058 : soldered or brazed or welded
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0015 : Kidney-shaped, e.g. bean-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0068 : the pharmaceutical product being in a reservoir
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00011 : Metals or alloys
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00365 : Proteins; Polypeptides; Degradation products thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00383 : Gelatin
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/1077 : Recurrent authorisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2137 : Time limited access, e.g. to a computer or data

Abstract

The present invention provides a method for stabilizing a fractured bone. The method includes positioning an elongate rod in the medullary canal of the fractured bone and forming a passageway through the cortex of the bone. The passageway extends from the exterior surface of the bone to the medullary canal of the bone. The method also includes creating a bonding region on the elongate rod. The bonding region is generally aligned with the passageway of the cortex. Furthermore, the method includes positioning a fastener in the passageway of the cortex and on the bonding region of the elongate rod and thermally bonding the fastener to the bonding region of the elongate rod while the fastener is positioned in the passageway of the cortex.

Claims

1. A weldable plate assembly for attachment to a first tissue or implant material comprising:

a plate having a first receptacle formed on a first side of the plate;

an anchor having a longitudinal axis, a distal end and a proximal end, wherein the distal end is configured for insertion into the first tissue or implant material and the proximal end is configured for insertion into the receptacle formed on the plate;

wherein at least one of the anchor or plate can be welded when exposed to an energy source.

2. The weldable plate assembly of claim 1, wherein said anchor includes a helical thread disposed on the outer surface of the distal end that engages with the first tissue or implant material to assist in insertion or removal of the anchor from the first tissue or implant material when the anchor is rotated.

3. The weldable plate assembly of claim 2, wherein the plate further comprises a second receptacle formed on an opposing side of the plate, and wherein said second receptacle is configured to receive a welding instrument for emitting the energy source.

4. The weldable plate assembly of claim 1, wherein at least one of the anchor and plate is made of PEEK.

5. The weldable plate assembly of claim 1, wherein this proximal end of the anchor is substantially conical.

6. The weldable plate assembly of claim 3 further comprising a plurality of anchors having distal and proximal ends, and wherein the plate comprises a corresponding plurality of first receptacles formed on the first side of the plate for receiving the proximal ends of the anchors and a corresponding plurality of second receptacles on the opposing side of the plate for receiving the welding instrument.

7. A method of stabilizing a bone comprising the steps of:

placing a rod having a longitudinal axis into a cavity of the bone;

inserting a fastener through the bone toward the rod at an angle that does not intersect the longitudinal axis of the rod;

causing the fastener to exert a biasing force against a portion of the rod; and

welding the fastener to the rod.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein at least one of the rod and fastener is formed from PEEK.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the biasing force exerted on the rod by the fastener urges the rod toward a wall of the bone cavity.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the fastener comprises a post that extends at least partially into the bone and contacts the rod, and wherein the post comprises an outwardly extending projection along at least a portion of the length of the post.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the fastener comprises a plurality of posts extending at least partially into the bond and contacting the rod.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the fastener further comprises a band associating a first post with a second post.

13. A method of stabilizing a bone comprising the steps of:

placing a rod having a longitudinal axis into a cavity of the bone;

inserting a fastener through the bone toward the rod at an angle that does not intersect the longitudinal axis of the rod;

causing the fastener to exert a biasing force against a portion of the rod; and

welding the fastener to the bone.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the biasing force exerted on the rod by the fastener urges the rod toward a wall of the bone cavity.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the fastener comprises a post that extends at least partially into the bone and contacts the rod, and wherein the post comprises an outwardly extending projection along at least a portion of the length of the post.