Implants and methods for treating bone
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An expandable implant, comprising:
- an elongated body configured for insertion into or adjacent a bone in a collapsed configuration and moveable into an expanded configuration to support the bone, the body comprising a plurality of similarly shaped body segments aligned with each other along an axis in the collapsed configuration, at least one of the body segments insertable along the axis into a second of the body segments so as to helically unwind the second body segment in a direction outward from the axis to thereby controllably move the body into the expanded configuration, each of the body segments comprising at least one deformable element wound about the axis along the length of the body segment from a proximal end to a distal end of the body segment, said at least one element configured to unwind outward from the axis upon the introduction of said at least one body segment into the second body segment
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Abstract
An orthopedic implant comprising a deformable, expandable implant body configured for treating abnormalities in bones, such as compression fractures of vertebra, necrosis of femurs and the like. An exemplary implant body comprises a small cross-section threaded element that is introduced into a bone region and thereafter is expanded into a larger cross-section, monolithic assembly to provide a bone support. In one embodiment, the implant body is at least partly fabricated of a magnesium alloy that is biodegradable to allow for later tissue ingrowth.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. An expandable implant, comprising:
an elongated body configured for insertion into or adjacent a bone in a collapsed configuration and moveable into an expanded configuration to support the bone, the body comprising a plurality of similarly shaped body segments aligned with each other along an axis in the collapsed configuration, at least one of the body segments insertable along the axis into a second of the body segments so as to helically unwind the second body segment in a direction outward from the axis to thereby controllably move the body into the expanded configuration, each of the body segments comprising at least one deformable element wound about the axis along the length of the body segment from a proximal end to a distal end of the body segment, said at least one element configured to unwind outward from the axis upon the introduction of said at least one body segment into the second body segment - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 20, 21, 22, 23, 30)
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12. A method of treating or prophylactically preventing a fracture of a bone comprising:
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introducing into a bone a first implant body segment comprising a deformable helical segment extending about an axis of the first implant body segment, the deformable helical segment being expandable in a direction generally orthogonal to the axis, at least a portion of the deformable helical element contacting the bone; and introducing at least two additional implant body segments into the interior of the first body segment to thereby helically unwind the helical segment of the first implant body segment outward from the axis to radially expand the first implant body segment in a direction perpendicular to the axis to support the bone. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 24, 25, 26)
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17. A method for treating an abnormality in a bone comprising:
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introducing an implant body into a bone wherein the implant body includes a biodegradable magnesium alloy expanding the implant body within bone, wherein expanding the implant body comprises axially inserting at least two implant segments into a third implant segment to radially expand the third implant segment outward from the axis, wherein radially expanding the third implant segment comprises helically deforming the third implant segment; and allowing the magnesium alloy to biodegrade thereby creating space for tissue ingrowth. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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27. An expandable implant insertable into a vertebra, comprising:
an elongated body configured for insertion into a vertebral body along an axis in a collapsed configuration and moveable into an expanded configuration, the body defined by at least three similarly shaped radially deformable segments aligned end-to-end with each other, at least a first and a second segment axially insertable into a third segment such that an outer surface of the first segment helically contacts an inner surface of the third segment to thereby untwist the third segment and expand the body radially outward from the axis. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29)
Specification