Curable orthopedic implant devices configured to be hardened after placement in vivo
First Claim
1. An orthopedic implant device, comprising:
- a biocompatible sheath; and
a curable material having a non-rigid form contained and sealed in the sheath;
wherein the device is deformable before and during implantation within a patient; and
wherein the material is transformable to a rigid form after application of a quantity of an initiating energy to the material effective to cure the material.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Orthopedic implants include a device that is non-rigid, i.e., flexible and/or malleable, in a first form for insertion into a desired in vivo site, and then transformable into a rigid, or hardened, form for providing a load-bearing function or providing other structural and/or mechanical function after implant. The device includes a biocompatible sheath and a curable material sealed within the sheath. The curable material is provided in a first form that provides flexibility to the device and is structured to rigidize in a second form after application of a quantity of an initiating energy to the material. Related methods and kits are also provided.
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Citations
40 Claims
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1. An orthopedic implant device, comprising:
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a biocompatible sheath; and a curable material having a non-rigid form contained and sealed in the sheath; wherein the device is deformable before and during implantation within a patient; and wherein the material is transformable to a rigid form after application of a quantity of an initiating energy to the material effective to cure the material. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. An orthopedic implant device, comprising:
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a biocompatible sheath; a curable material contained within the biocompatible sheath, the curable material operable, upon application of a quantity of a cure-initiating energy, to harden, thereby forming a load-bearing component of an orthopedic implant; and an energy delivery element contained within the sheath, the energy delivery element operable to deliver initiating energy to the curable material. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. An orthopedic implant device, comprising:
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a biocompatible sheath; and a curable material contained within the biocompatible sheath, the curable material operable, upon application of a quantity of a cure-initiating energy, to harden, thereby forming a load-bearing component of an orthopedic implant; wherein the initiating energy is electromagnetic radiation of a predetermined wavelength, and wherein the sheath is transparent to the radiation.
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37. An orthopedic implant device, comprising:
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a biocompatible sheath; a curable material contained within the biocompatible sheath, the curable material operable, upon application of a quantity of a cure-initiating energy, to harden, thereby forming a load-bearing component of an orthopedic implant; and a pressurizeable balloon contained within the sheath; wherein the curable material is positioned external to the balloon; and wherein the balloon is operable to receive a pressurizing fluid to pressurize the balloon and exert an outward pressure on the curable material and the sheath. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40)
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Specification