Expandable support device and method of use

• US 8,709,042 B2
• Filed: 03/21/2007
• Issued: 04/29/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stout Medical Group, L.P. (Alphatec Holdings Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Stout Medical Group, L.P. (Alphatec Holdings Incorporated)
• Inventors: Greenhalgh, E. Skott, Romano, John Paul, Igoe, Michael P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cumberledge, Jerry
• Application Number:
  US11/689,471
• Publication Number:
  US 20070219634A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,596 Days
• Field of Search: 606246-279, 623 1711- 1716
• US Class Current: 606/246
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7098 wherein the implant is permeable or has openings, e.g. fenestrated screw hollow surgical screws A61B17/864
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8858 laterally or radially expansible inflatable A61B17/8855
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/30767 Special external or bone-contacting surface, e.g. coating for improving bone ingrowth
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4425 made of articulated components
• 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 2/446 having a circular or elliptical cross-section substantially parallel to the axis of the spine, e.g. cylinders or frustocones
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4611 of spinal prostheses
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30092 using shape memory or superelastic materials, e.g. nitinol
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30176 V-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30579 with mechanically expandable devices, e.g. fixation devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30593 hollow
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30677 Means for introducing or releasing pharmaceutical products, e.g. antibiotics, into the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30777 Oblong apertures
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30785 parallel
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4435 Support means or repair of the natural disc wall, i.e. annulus, e.g. using plates, membranes or meshes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/444 for replacing the nucleus pulposus
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4627 with linear motion along or rotating motion about the instrument axis or the implantation direction, e.g. telescopic, along a guiding rod, screwing inside the instrument
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/0014 using shape memory or superelastic materials, e.g. nitinol
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0054 V-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00017 Iron- or Fe-based alloys, e.g. stainless steel
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00023 : Titanium or titanium-based alloys, e.g. Ti-Ni alloys
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00029 : Cobalt-based alloys, e.g. Co-Cr alloys or Vitallium
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00131 : Tantalum or Ta-based alloys
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00365 : Proteins; Polypeptides; Degradation products thereof

Abstract

An expandable support device for tissue repair is disclosed. The device can be used to repair hard or soft tissue, such as bone or vertebral discs. A method of repairing tissue is also disclosed. The device and method can be used to treat compression fractures. The compression fractures can be in the spine. The device can be deployed by compressing the device longitudinally resulting in radial expansion.

Claims

1. A method of performing surgery in a patient comprising:

accessing a bone structure;

forming an opening into the bone structure;

inserting an expandable implant having a body having a length, width and height defining a substantially hollow interior, the implant further including at least one first strut defining one of said height or width, said first strut being substantially deformable under expansion force to alter a dimension of the implant, the first strut having a first, unexpanded configuration and a second expanded configuration, the implant increasing in dimension in the direction of expansion of said first strut; and

expanding the implant to deform the first strut, thereby expanding the implant within the bone structure, wherein the expanding comprises deforming the first strut, and wherein expanding comprises expanding in an inferior-superior direction with respect to the patient;

wherein the implant further comprises sliding wedges.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein expanding the implant comprises sliding the wedges relative to each other.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein expanding the implant comprises exerting a longitudinal compression force on the wedges.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising filling the interior of the implant with a filler.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising inserting a locking pin into the implant.