Devices for forming curved or closed-loop structures

• US 7,947,078 B2
• Filed: 01/09/2008
• Issued: 05/24/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/09/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: SeaSpine, Inc. (Orthofix Medical Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Non-Invasive Technology Incorporated
• Inventors: Siegal, Tzony
• Primary Examiner(s): Jones; David B
• Application Number:
  US12/521,585
• Publication Number:
  US 20110093072A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,231 Days
• Field of Search: 623/17.11, 623/17.12, 623/17.15, 606/90, 606/92, 606/105, 606/170, 606/246, 606/279, 59/78, 59/781, 59/84
• US Class Current: 623/17.11
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/68 Internal fixation devices , including fasteners and spinal fixators, even if a part thereof projects from the skin bone staples A61B17/0642
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8852 capable of being assembled or enlarged, or changing shape, inside the bone or disc
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/442 Intervertebral or spinal discs, e.g. resilient non-disc-shaped intervertebral inflatable pockets A61F2/441; non-disc-shaped intervertebral fusion implants A61F2/4455
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4465 having a circular or kidney shaped cross-section substantially perpendicular to the axis of the spine
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4611 of spinal prostheses
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30004 the prosthesis being made from materials having different values of a given property at different locations within the same prosthesis
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/302 toroidal, e.g. rings
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30289 helically-coiled
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30383 made by laterally inserting a protrusion, e.g. a rib into a complementarily-shaped groove
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30471 connected by a hinged linkage mechanism, e.g. of the single-bar or multi-bar linkage type
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/305 Snap connection
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30505 spring biased
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30507 using a threaded locking member, e.g. a locking screw or a set screw
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30565 having spring elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30579 with mechanically expandable devices, e.g. fixation devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30594 slotted, e.g. radial or meridian slot ending in a polar aperture, non-polar slots, horizontal or arcuate slots
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4415 elements of the prosthesis being arranged in a chain like manner
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0025 Connections or couplings between prosthetic parts, e.g. between modular parts; Connecting elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0091 connected by a hinged linkage mechanism, e.g. of the single-bar or multi-bar linkage type
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0065 toroidal, e.g. ring-shaped, doughnut-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0091 : helically-coiled or spirally-coiled, i.e. having a 2-D spiral cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0014 : having different values of a given property or geometrical feature, e.g. mechanical property or material property, at different locations within the same prosthesis

Abstract

A device for forming structurally stable curved structures includes an elongated element (10) with a number of segments (12) interconnected at effective hinges (14) to allow deflection of each segment relative to adjacent segments between a reduced-curvature state and a flexed state. Neighboring segments have interlocking features (16) forming an inter-segment locking configuration such that, when the segments are deflected from the reduced-curvature state to the flexed state, the interlocking features interlock adjacent of the segments so as to retain the segments in the flexed state corresponding to a predefined curved configuration of the elongated element. Additionally, or alternatively, a leading portion (44) and a rear portion (40) of the elongated element have features forming at least part of a loop-lock configuration effective to lock together the leading portion and the rear portion so as to form a closed loop structure.

Claims

1. A device for forming closed loop structures comprising an elongated element formed from a plurality of segments sequentially interconnected so as to form an effective hinge between adjacent of said segments, said segments and said effective hinges being configured such that said effective hinges allow deflection of each segment relative to adjacent segments between a reduced-curvature state and a flexed state,

wherein a rear portion of said elongated element includes a recess, and wherein a leading portion of said elongated element and said recess are configured so that at least part of said leading portion is received within said recess when said elongated element is in said flexed state so as to form a closed loop structure.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said leading portion has a first width measured parallel to said effective hinge and said rear portion has a second width measured parallel to said effective hinge, said second width being greater than said first width.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein said leading portion is configured to engage an edge of said recess.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein rear portion further includes a rearward extending bore contiguous with said recess, and wherein said leading portion includes a recess which forms a contiguous opening with said rearward extending bore when said elongated element is deployed as said closed loop structure.

5. The device of claim 4, further comprising an elongated locking element for insertion through said rearward extending bore to engage said shaped recess, thereby locking said closed loop structure.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein said elongated locking element and said bore are threaded.

7. The device of claim 5, wherein said bore is a rearward-opening bore.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein each of the effective hinges is formed by a flat connecting portion of flexible material interconnecting between adjacent of the segments.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein each of the flat connecting portions is integrally formed with adjacent of the segments.

10. The device of claim 8, wherein all of the segments and the flat connecting portions are integrally formed.

11. The device of claim 1, further comprising a delivery conduit having a passageway shaped to allow delivery of said elongated element along said passageway, said conduit including a lateral opening for accommodating at least part of said leading portion.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein said conduit includes at least one feature configured to engage part of said leading portion, thereby providing part of said loop-lock configuration.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein said leading portion and said rear portion of said elongated element include features forming at least part of a loop-lock configuration, said loop-lock configuration being operative to lock together said leading portion and said rear portion so as to lock said closed loop structure.

14. The device of claim 4, wherein said recess of said leading portion is implemented as a bore deployed to form a contiguous opening with said rearward extending bore when said elongated element is deployed as said closed loop structure.