ORTHOPAEDIC IMPLANT

• US 20100042215A1
• Filed: 08/28/2009
• Published: 02/18/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SMed TA/TD, LLC. (Sites Medical LLC)
• Original Assignee: SMed TA/TD, LLC. (Sites Medical LLC)
• Inventors: Stalcup, Gregory C., Nebosky, Paul S., Zimmerman, Sarah L.
• Granted Patent: US 9,358,056 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/16.110
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/58 for osteosynthesis, e.g. bone plates, screws , setting implements or the like A61B17/14, A61B17/16 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/68 Internal fixation devices , including fasteners and spinal fixators, even if a part thereof projects from the skin bone staples A61B17/0642
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7098 wherein the implant is permeable or has openings, e.g. fenestrated screw hollow surgical screws A61B17/864
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8095 Wedge osteotomy devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/86 Pins or screws or threaded wires; nuts therefor A61B17/72 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/864 hollow, e.g. with socket or cannulated
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/866 Material or manufacture
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8685 comprising multiple separate parts
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8802 Equipment for handling bone cement or other fluid fillers

Abstract

An orthopaedic implant system includes an orthopaedic implant implantable at a selected location within a corporeal body. The implant includes a first structural material and a second structural material. The first structural material is non-resorbable relative to the corporeal body and is different relative to the second structural material. The implant is an internal fixation device.

Claims

1. An orthopaedic implant system, comprising:

an orthopaedic implant implantable at a selected location within a corporeal body, said implant including a first structural material and a second structural material, said first structural material being non-resorbable relative to said corporeal body and being different relative to said second structural material, said implant being an internal fixation device.

2. The orthopaedic implant system of claim 1, wherein said internal fixation device is one of a bone screw, a bone anchor, and a bone tack.

3. The orthopaedic implant system of claim 2, wherein said second structural material is softer than said first structural material.

4. The orthopaedic implant system of claim 3, wherein said second structural material is configured for facilitating selectively cutting through said orthopaedic implant after said orthopaedic implant has been implanted in said corporeal body.

5. The orthopaedic implant system of claim 2, wherein said second structural material has a lower melting point than said first structural material.

6. The orthopaedic implant system of claim 2, further including at least one therapeutic agent carried by said second structural material, said second structural material being configured for releasing said at least one therapeutic agent into said corporeal body as said second structural material melts.

7. The orthopaedic implant system of claim 2, wherein said implant includes a body made of said first structural material, said body being configured for receiving at least one of bone and soft tissue ingrowth therein as said second structural material melts.

8. The orthopaedic implant system of claim 2, wherein said orthopaedic implant is a bone screw which includes a core, a head attached to said core, and a plurality of threads about said core, said core being made of said second structural material, said head being made of said first structural material, said plurality of threads including one of said first structural material and another structural material which is non-resorbable relative to said corporeal body, said second structural material at least one of having a lower melting point than said first structural material and being softer than said first structural material.

9. The orthopaedic implant system of claim 2, wherein said orthopaedic implant is a bone screw which includes a core and a plurality of threads about said core, said core being made of said second structural material, said plurality of threads being made of said first structural material, said plurality of threads including a plurality of pores which are configured for receiving at least one of bone and soft tissue ingrowth therein, said second structural material at least one of having a lower melting point than said first structural material and being softer than said first structural material.

10. The orthopaedic implant system of claim 2, wherein said first structural material includes at least one of stainless steel, titanium, a titanium alloy, a cobalt chrome alloy, polyetheretherketone, and polyethylene.

11. The orthopaedic implant system of claim 2, wherein said first structural material is polyetheretherketone, said second structural material being softer than said first structural material.

12. The orthopaedic implant system of claim 11, wherein said second structural material is polyethylene.

13. The orthopaedic implant system of claim 2, wherein said first structural material is titanium, said second structural material being softer than said first structural material.

14. The orthopaedic implant system of claim 13, wherein said second structural material is polyetheretherketone.

15. The orthopedic implant system of claim 2, wherein said first structural material is titanium, said second structural material having a lower melting point than said first structural material.

16. The orthopaedic implant system of claim 15, wherein said second structural material is one of polyetheretherketone and polyethylene.

17. The orthopaedic implant system of claim 2, wherein said first structural material is polyetheretherketone, said second structural material having a lower melting point than said first structural material.

18. The orthopaedic implant system of claim 17, wherein said second structural material is polyethylene.

19. A method of using an orthopaedic implant system, said method comprising the steps of:

providing an orthopaedic implant including a first structural material and a second structural material, said first structural material being non-resorbable relative to a corporeal body and being different relative to said second structural material, said implant being an internal fixation device; and

implanting said orthopaedic implant at a selected location within said corporeal body.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein said internal fixation device is one of a bone screw, a bone anchor, and a bone tack.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein said second structural material is softer than said first structural material.

22. The method of claim 21, further including said second structural material facilitating selectively cutting through said orthopaedic implant after said orthopaedic implant has been implanted in said corporeal body.

23. The method of claim 20, further including melting said second structural material, said second structural material having a lower melting point than said first structural material.

24. The method of claim 20, further including carrying at least one therapeutic agent by said second structural material, and releasing said at least one therapeutic agent by said second structural material into said corporeal body as said second structural material melts.

25. The method of claim 20, wherein said implant includes a body made of said first structural material, said body being receiving at least one of bone and soft tissue ingrowth therein as said second structural material melts.

26. The method of claim 20, wherein said orthopaedic implant is a bone screw which includes a core, a head attached to said core, and a plurality of threads about said core, said core being made of said second structural material, said head being made of said first structural material, said plurality of threads including one of said first structural material and another structural material which is non-resorbable relative to said corporeal body, said second structural material at least one of (1) melting, said second structural material having a lower melting point than said first structural material, and (2) being softer than said first structural material.

27. The method of claim 20, wherein said orthopaedic implant is a bone screw which includes a core and a plurality of threads about said core, said core being made of said second structural material, said plurality of threads being made of said first structural material, said plurality of threads including a plurality of pores which receive at least one of bone and soft tissue ingrowth therein, said second structural material at least one of (1) melting, said second structural material having a lower melting point than said first structural material, and (2) being softer than said first structural material.

28. The method of claim 20, wherein said first structural material includes at least one of stainless steel, titanium, a titanium alloy, a cobalt chrome alloy, polyetheretherketone, and polyethylene.

29. The method of claim 20 wherein said first structural material is polyetheretherketone, said second structural material being softer than said first structural material.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein said second structural material is polyethylene.

31. The method of claim 20, wherein said first structural material is titanium, said second structural material being softer than said first structural material.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein said second structural material is polyetheretherketone.

33. The method of claim 20, wherein said first structural material is titanium, said second structural material having a lower melting point than said first structural material.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein said second structural material is one of polyetheretherketone and polyethylene.

35. The method of claim 20, wherein said first structural material is polyetheretherketone, said second structural material having a lower melting point than said first structural material.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein said second structural material is polyethylene.