Apparatus and method for bone fixation and fusion stimulation
First Claim
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1. Apparatus for stimulating healing of and immobilizing a fracture or a fusion site of a bone, the bone having a bone surface with a bone contour, the apparatus comprisinga substantially rigid plate having a surface for intimately mating with the bone surface;
- said surface having a preformed contour that is the inverse image of the bone contour;
fastening means for securing said plate directly to the bone;
an electronic-module housing secured to said plate; and
an electronic module, removably disposed in said housing, having disposed therein an electronic circuit for generating and emitting an energy for stimulating the healing of the site.
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Abstract
Apparatus and a method for promoting the healing of a bone having a fracture site or fusion site is provided. The apparatus includes a brace coupled to the site and adapted for stabilizing the site. Firmly coupled to the brace is an electronic circuit emitting an energy for stimulating the healing of the site, where the brace and the electronic circuit form substantially an integral unit.
160 Citations
31 Claims
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1. Apparatus for stimulating healing of and immobilizing a fracture or a fusion site of a bone, the bone having a bone surface with a bone contour, the apparatus comprising
a substantially rigid plate having a surface for intimately mating with the bone surface; -
said surface having a preformed contour that is the inverse image of the bone contour; fastening means for securing said plate directly to the bone; an electronic-module housing secured to said plate; and an electronic module, removably disposed in said housing, having disposed therein an electronic circuit for generating and emitting an energy for stimulating the healing of the site. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method for promoting the healing of a fracture or fusion site of a bone having a bone surface with a bone contour, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing a substantially rigid plate having a surface with a preformed contour that is the inverse image of the bone contour; affixing said plate directly to the bone for immobilizing the site such that said surface intimately mates with the bone surface; removably disposing an electronic module, having an electrode circuit, in a housing attached to said plate; and generating an energy signal with said electronic circuit to stimulate the healing of the site. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A method for healing a fracture or fusion site of a bone having a bone surface with a bone contour, the method comprising the steps of:
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designing a plurality of electronic circuits adapted to perform a number of functions including emitting a stimulating energy, emitting a diagnostic energy, receiving said diagnostic energy, and broadcasting said received diagnostic energy; designing a plurality of braces adapted for immobilizing an injured bone and accommodating said electronic circuits; storing said braces and electronic circuit designs in a components library; determining the need of a patient and the bone contour of the site; selecting a brace and electronic circuits from said components library in response to said determination; designing for said brace a surface having a contour the inverse image of the bone contour; manufacturing a custom brace having said surface and said electronic circuits in response to said selection; and installing said custom brace and electronic circuits in said patient such that said surface intimately mates with said bone surface.
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Specification