Artificial ligaments for joint applications

• US 7,887,586 B2
• Filed: 09/17/2008
• Issued: 02/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Linares Medical Devices, LLC
• Original Assignee: Linares Medical Devices, LLC
• Inventors: Linares, Miguel A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Stewart; Alvin J
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sharma; Yashita
• Application Number:
  US12/212,141
• Publication Number:
  US 20090076604A1
• Time in Patent Office: 881 Days
• Field of Search: 623 1311- 1315, 623/14.12, 623/18.11, 623/19.11, 623/19.12, 623/19.13, 623/20.14, 623 1711- 1719, 623/20.11, 623 2026- 2033, 623/21.11, 623/21.13, 623 2115- 2117, 606/246, 606/247, 606/254, 606/255, 606/257, 606/297, 606/319, 606/248, 606250-252
• US Class Current: 623/13.11
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/08 Muscles; Tendons; Ligaments sutures A61B17/04
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0811 Fixation devices for tendons or ligaments
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/32 for the hip
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/3607 including proximal or total replacement of the femur
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/40 for shoulders
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/0835 with deformation of anchor parts, e.g. expansion of dowel by set screw
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/0858 Fixation of tendon or ligament between anchor and bone, e.g. interference screws, wedges
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/0888 Anchor in or on a blind hole or on the bone surface without formation of a tunnel
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30462 retained or tied with a rope, string, thread, wire or cable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30673 Lubricating means, e.g. synovial pocket
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30675 Means for regulating synovial fluid pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3233 having anti-luxation means for preventing complete dislocation of the femoral head from the acetabular cup
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4011 including proximal or total replacement of the humerus
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0075 sutured, ligatured or stitched, retained or tied with a rope, string, thread, wire or cable

Abstract

A ligament incorporated into a prosthetic joint exhibiting a plasticized, elongated and deformable material. A fibrous material is internally disposed within the deformable material, the fibrous material terminating in first and second enlarged bead portions arranged in proximity to enlarged pocket defined ends associated with the deformable materials. First and second bones define a joint region therebetween, the deformable end pockets and bead portions being inserted through associated holes defined in joint proximate locations associated with the bones, so that actuation of a projection location of the fibrous material causes the bead portions to outwardly deflect the end pockets, resulting in the ligaments being anchored in place between the bones.

Claims

1. A swivelable joint assembly implanted between first and second joint defining bones, comprising:

a first three dimensional shaped element adapted to being secured to a projecting end of the first bone, said first element including a projecting end plug and an extending stem adapted to being securably mounted within an interior of the first bone;

a second three dimensional shaped element adapted to being secured to a receiving end of the second bone; and

a spool shaped ligament having a specified shape and size and further comprising a flexible material, said ligament exhibiting a first annular enlarged end supported in freely rotatable fashion within an undercut defined interior configured within said end plug of said first element, a second annular enlarged end of said ligament supported within an undercut defined interior of said second element.

2. The invention as described in claim 1, said second element further comprising a bowl shape and the second bone adapted to being an upper socket defining bone, an undercut support exhibiting a generally knob-shape and being positionally supported through an aperture in said bowl shaped element and defined undercut in the second bone.

3. The invention as described in claim 1, said first and second elements each having a specified shape and size and further comprising a hardened plastic material.

4. The invention as described in claim 3, further comprising a softer plastic surface layer applied over exposed surfaces of said first and second elements.

5. The invention as described in claim 1, further comprising a bone mounting surface of said second three dimensional shaped element promoting natural bone marrow adhesion growth.

6. The invention as described in claim 1, said projecting end plug of said first three dimensional shaped element further comprising a bulbous shaped element.

7. The invention as described in claim 6, said bulbous shaped element further comprising an annular mounting surface affixed to a likewise annular sectioned end of the first bone.