Contourable polymer filled implant

• US 6,425,923 B1
• Filed: 03/07/2000
• Issued: 07/30/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Zimmer Technology Incorporated (Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Zimmer Incorporated (Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Lozier, Antony J., Stalcup, Gregory C.
• Primary Examiner(s): SNOW, BRUCE EDWARD
• Application Number:
  US09/519,690
• Time in Patent Office: 875 Days
• Field of Search: 623/23.58, 623/23.48, 623/23.63, 623/23.75, 606/62, 606/63, 606/68, 606/94, 606/192
• US Class Current: 623/23.58
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/164 intramedullary
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7097 Stabilisers comprising fluid filler in an implant, e.g. balloon; devices for inserting or filling such implants disc prostheses made of inflatable chambers or pockets filled with fluid A61F2/441; replacing the nucleus pulposus A61F2002/444
• 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 17/7275 with expanding cylindrical parts
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8811 characterised by the introducer tip, i.e. the part inserted into or onto the bone
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/28 Bones joints A61F2/30
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2846 Support means for bone substitute or for bone graft implants, e.g. membranes or plates for covering bone defects nets or sleeves applied to surface of endoprostheses A61F2/30907; bone plates A61B17/80; bone regeneration in dental surgery A61C8/0006
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4601 for introducing bone substitute, for implanting bone graft implants or for compacting them in the bone cavity
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/2825 Femur
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30062 (bio)absorbable, biodegradable, bioerodable, (bio)resorbable, resorptive
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30069 elastomeric
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30583 filled with hardenable fluid, e.g. curable in-situ
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4635 using minimally invasive surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/465 using heating means
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/0004 bioabsorbable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/0085 hardenable in situ, e.g. epoxy resins
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00353 Bone cement, e.g. polymethylmethacrylate or PMMA
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 27/16 obtained by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 27/58 Materials at least partially resorbable by the body
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 33/12 Homopolymers or copolymers of methyl methacrylate

Abstract

An orthopaedic implant includes a flexible bag having at least a portion thereof which is expandable under pressure; and a polymer within the bag. The orthopaedic implant is implanted within a bone by forming a cavity in the bone; inserting a flexible bag into the cavity, the flexible bag having at least a portion thereof which is expandable under pressure; pressure filling the bag with a polymer, whereby the expandable portion of the bag expands to substantially entirely fill the cavity in the bone; and hardening the polymer.

Claims

1. A method of implanting an orthopaedic implant in a bone having a non-surgically created void, comprising the steps of:

forming a cavity in the bone, said cavity intersecting the void;

inserting a flexible bag into said cavity, said flexible bag having at least a portion thereof which is expandable under pressure;

pressure filling said bag with a polymer, whereby said expandable portion of said bag expands to substantially entirely fill said cavity and said void in the bone; and

hardening said polymer.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the bone has a shaft and said forming step comprises forming an elongate opening generally corresponding to the intramedullary canal of the bone.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said bag is elongate to fit in the elongate opening formed in the bone.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the bone comprises a femur.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the bone has a void, said cavity defined in part by said void.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the bone has a shaft and said forming step comprises forming an elongate opening generally corresponding to the intramedullary canal of the bone, said elongate opening adjoining said void.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said bag is comprised of an elastomeric material.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said polymer comprises a curable polymer.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said polymer is curable with one of thermal energy, light energy, X-ray energy and a chemical catalyst.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said hardening step comprises hardening said polymer with a chemical catalyst.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein said polymer comprises a bioresorbable polymer.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein said polymer comprises polymethylmethacrylate.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein said bag comprises a porous bag allowing some of said polymer to pass therethrough.