Implants and methods for treating bone

• US 8,409,289 B2
• Filed: 11/23/2009
• Issued: 04/02/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dfine Incorporated (Merit Medical Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dfine Incorporated (Merit Medical Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Truckai, Csaba, Shadduck, John H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Robert, Eduardo C
• Assistant Examiner(s): CARTER, TARA ROSE E
• Application Number:
  US12/624,086
• Publication Number:
  US 20100137986A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,226 Days
• Field of Search: 606246-249, 606/99, 623 1711- 1716
• US Class Current: 623/17.16
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/70 Spinal positioners or stabilisers ; Bone stabilisers comprising fluid filler in an implant
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8858 laterally or radially expansible inflatable A61B17/8855
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00004 (bio)absorbable, (bio)resorbable, resorptive for implantable prostheses A61F2210/0004
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/44 for the spine, e.g. vertebrae, spinal discs
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4455 for the fusion of spinal bodies, e.g. intervertebral fusion of adjacent spinal bodies, e.g. fusion cages intervertebral discs A61F2/442
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4611 of spinal prostheses
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30062 (bio)absorbable, biodegradable, bioerodable, (bio)resorbable, resorptive
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30289 helically-coiled
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30579 with mechanically expandable devices, e.g. fixation devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30677 Means for introducing or releasing pharmaceutical products, e.g. antibiotics, into the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/0004 bioabsorbable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0091 helically-coiled or spirally-coiled, i.e. having a 2-D spiral cross-section

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.

Claims

1. A method of treating or prophylactically preventing a fracture of a bone comprising:

introducing into a bone a first implant body segment comprising a reticulated, radially-expandable segment extending about an axis of the first implant body segment, at least a portion of the reticulated, radially-expanding body segment contacting the bone; and

introducing at least two additional implant body segments into the interior of the first body segment to thereby radially expand the reticulated segment of the first implant body segment outward from the axis in a direction perpendicular to the axis to support the bone.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein introducing the implant body segments displaces cancellous bone.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein introducing the implant body segments moves cortical bone.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein introducing the implant body segments at least partially restores vertebral height.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the bone is a vertebra.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein introducing the at least two additional implant body segments into the first body segment comprises breaking a break-away joint between the additional implant body segments and the first body segment.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein introducing the at least two additional implant body segments into the first body segment comprises sequentially introducing independent body segments through an introducer sleeve.