EXPANDABLE IMPLANT
First Claim
1. An implant comprising an implant body having a total volume, the implant body defining at least one chamber disposed in an expandable portion of the implant body, the at least one chamber having a volume less than the total volume, wherein the at least one chamber is configured to receive an expansion fluid having a volume that increases, such that the volume of the expandable portion increases to an expanded position after energy has delivered heat to the implant body.
8 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An expandable portion of an implant has a total volume and includes a plurality of chambers, each having a volume less than the total volume. At least one of the chambers includes a biocompatible media which is liquid at room temperature. The at least one chamber is closed, so that by increasing the temperature of the liquid, the pressure in the chamber increases.
73 Citations
56 Claims
- 1. An implant comprising an implant body having a total volume, the implant body defining at least one chamber disposed in an expandable portion of the implant body, the at least one chamber having a volume less than the total volume, wherein the at least one chamber is configured to receive an expansion fluid having a volume that increases, such that the volume of the expandable portion increases to an expanded position after energy has delivered heat to the implant body.
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41. A bone fixation kit, comprising:
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an implant having an implant body having a volume, the implant body defining at least one chamber that is configured to retain an expansion fluid at a pressure; and an energy emitter configured to apply energy to the implant so as to deliver heat to the implant body, wherein the applied energy causes the pressure of the expansion fluid to increases inside the at least one chamber so as to cause an expandable portion of the implant body to expand. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52)
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53. A method for expanding an implant of the type configured to retain an expansion fluid, the method comprising the steps of:
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applying heat to an implant body of the implant; and increasing the pressure of expansion fluid inside the implant so as to cause the implant to expand from a first volume to a second volume greater than the first volume. - View Dependent Claims (54, 55, 56)
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Specification