Tissue distraction device
First Claim
1. An apparatus for sequentially inserting wafers, stackable consecutively one upon another to form a stack extending in a given direction into a body tissue space to be distracted, the apparatus comprising:
- a source of wafers;
a track assembly connected to said source of wafers and configured to sequentially advance wafers from the source of wafers into the space to be distracted, said track assembly having a distal end and defining a channel at said distal end;
a base wafer supported within said channel of said track assembly, said base wafer defining a support surface for supporting subsequent wafers advanced thereon by said track assembly; and
a connection mechanism between said channel and said base wafer configured to releasably connect said base wafer to said channel.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus and method for distracting, in a given direction, and supporting two tissue surfaces is provided. A plurality of wafers are consecutively inserted using a wafer insertion apparatus between the two tissue surfaces to create a column of wafers. A detachable wafer assembly is provided that includes a base wafer initially associated with a track assembly of a wafer insertion apparatus. The base wafer is dislodged from the track assembly so that the base wafer is left within the distraction site as the track assembly is removed. A top cap wafer is provided that is situated at the top of the wafer stack, in which the top cap wafer is larger than the remaining wafers to form a gap surrounding the stack to receive biologic material.
323 Citations
29 Claims
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1. An apparatus for sequentially inserting wafers, stackable consecutively one upon another to form a stack extending in a given direction into a body tissue space to be distracted, the apparatus comprising:
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a source of wafers; a track assembly connected to said source of wafers and configured to sequentially advance wafers from the source of wafers into the space to be distracted, said track assembly having a distal end and defining a channel at said distal end; a base wafer supported within said channel of said track assembly, said base wafer defining a support surface for supporting subsequent wafers advanced thereon by said track assembly; and a connection mechanism between said channel and said base wafer configured to releasably connect said base wafer to said channel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. An apparatus for sequentially inserting wafers, stackable consecutively one upon another to form a stack extending in a given direction into a body tissue space to be distracted, the apparatus comprising:
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a base wafer defining a support surface for supporting subsequent sequentially inserted wafers thereon; a track assembly configured to receive sequentially advanced wafers from a source of wafers into the space to be distracted, said track assembly having a distal end and defining a channel at said distal end, said channel having a portion supporting said base wafer within said channel and a wafer channel sized for passage of the sequentially inserted wafers to a position directly above said base wafer in the given and direction; and a connection mechanism between said channel and said base wafer configured to releasably connect said base wafer to said channel during sequential insertion of the stackable wafers, said connection mechanism including; a male-female connection defined between said base wafer and said channel; and a release plate slidably disposed within said track assembly and configured to break said male-female connection. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. An apparatus for sequentially inserting wafers, stackable consecutively one upon another to form a stack extending in a given direction into a body tissue space to be distracted, the apparatus comprising:
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a track assembly configured to sequentially advance wafers from a source of wafers into the space to be distracted, said track assembly having a distal end and defining a channel opening at said distal end; a base wafer supported on said track assembly at said distal end, said base wafer defining a support surface for supporting subsequent wafers received from said channel; and a connection mechanism releasably connecting said base wafer to said track assembly, said connection mechanism having a first configuration holding said base wafer as subsequent wafers are inserted thereon through said channel and movable to a different second configuration operable to separate said base wafer from said track assembly. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification