Medical device lock mechanism

• US 9,017,408 B2
• Filed: 02/16/2011
• Issued: 04/28/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SeaSpine, Inc. (Orthofix Medical Inc.)
• Original Assignee: NLT Spine Ltd (Orthofix Medical Inc.)
• Inventors: Siegal, Tzony, Keren, Dvir, Loebl, Oded, Toubia, Didier
• Primary Examiner(s): BATES, DAVID W
• Application Number:
  US13/579,292
• Publication Number:
  US 20130035762A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,532 Days
• Field of Search: 623/17.11
• US Class Current: 623/17.11
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7094 Solid vertebral fillers; devices for inserting such fillers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8852 capable of being assembled or enlarged, or changing shape, inside the bone or disc
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/02 Prostheses implantable into the body closure means for urethra or rectum or for artificial body openings therefor A61F2/0004
• 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 2002/2835 Bone graft implants for filling a bony defect or an endoprosthesis cavity, e.g. by synthetic material or biological material
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30331 made by longitudinally pushing a protrusion into a complementarily-shaped recess, e.g. held by friction fit
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30367 with additional means for preventing said rotation
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30462 retained or tied with a rope, string, thread, wire or cable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30469 using band clamps
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3052 unrestrained in only one direction, e.g. moving unidirectionally
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30522 releasable, e.g. using a releasable ratchet
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30624 Hinged joint, e.g. with transverse axle restricting the movement
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30632 with rotation-limiting stops, e.g. projections or recesses
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4415 elements of the prosthesis being arranged in a chain like manner
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/448 comprising multiple adjacent spinal implants within the same intervertebral space or within the same vertebra, e.g. comprising two adjacent spinal implants
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4635 using minimally invasive surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0025 Connections or couplings between prosthetic parts, e.g. between modular parts; Connecting elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0033 made by longitudinally pushing a protrusion into a complementary-shaped recess, e.g. held by friction fit
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0075 sutured, ligatured or stitched, retained or tied with a rope, string, thread, wire or cable

Abstract

A medical device (10) includes an implant body (20) with a number of segments (30) hingedly interconnected so as to assume a straightened state for delivery and a flexed or roughly curved deployed state. Implant body may have engagement elements on at least two different segments, for example on a majority of segments. An elongated locking element anchored at the distal segment of the implant body may have projections for at least each engagement element. Tension applied to the locking element biases the implant body from the straightened state to the flexed deployed state. When the locking element is deflected to reach the curved deployed state, flexing segments of the implant body lock by matching engagement elements of the implant body with projections of the locking element. A very secure lock may be formed to prevent opening after deployment.

Claims

1. A medical device comprising:

(a) an implant body including a plurality of segments interconnected so as to assume a straightened state and a flexed deployed state, a first of said segments having an engagement element; and

(b) an elongated locking element anchored at one segment of said implant body, the locking element having projections corresponding to the engagement elements,

wherein said implant body and said locking element are configured to lock, such that when said locking element is deflected to reach said flexed deployed state of the implant body, the projections of the locking element engages and locks with the engagement element of the implant body to lock said locking element relative to said implant body, thereby retaining said implant body in said flexed deployed state,

wherein at least one additional segment of said implant body has an additional engagement element and said elongated locking element has at least one additional projection that engages and locks with the additional engagement element when said at least one additional segment of said implant body flexes, said implant body and said locking element being configured such that, when said implant body is deflected, each successive segment of said implant body flexes, and projections engage said engagement elements only for those segments that have already flexed.

2. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the locking element is anchored at a distal segment of the implant body and wherein said implant body and said locking element are configured such that tension applied to said locking element tends to bias said implant body from said straightened state to said flexed deployed state.

3. The medical device of claim 1, wherein each of at least three of the segments of said implant body are formed with at least one engagement element from among the engagement element and the at least one additional engagement element, and the locking element has a projection corresponding to and engaging at least one of the engagement elements of the implant body from among the engagement element and the at least one additional engagement element to provide said locking arrangement.

4. The medical device of claim 1, wherein each of at least one-third of the segments of said implant body are formed with at least one engagement element from among the engagement element and the at least one additional engagement element, and the locking element has a projection corresponding to and engaging each of the engagement elements of the implant body from among the engagement element and the at least one additional engagement element to provide said locking arrangement.

5. The medical device of claim 1, wherein in any group of four consecutive segments, at least one out of the four consecutive segments has an engagement element from among the engagement element and the at least one additional engagement element, and locks with a corresponding projection of the locking element.

6. The medical device of claim 1, wherein each of the segments of said implant body other than a distal segment is formed with at least one engagement element from among the engagement element and the at least one additional engagement element, and the locking element has a projection corresponding to and engaging at least two of the engagement elements of the implant body from among the engagement element and the at least one additional engagement element.

7. The medical device of claim 1, wherein a majority of segments of the plurality of segments are formed with at least one engagement element from among the engagement element and the at least one additional engagement element, and the locking element has a projection corresponding to each of the at least one engagement element.

8. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the projections are teeth and the engagement elements are steps.

9. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the projections are elastic tabs and the engagement elements are complementary recesses.

10. The medical device of claim 1, further including a conduit sized to receive said implant and to maintain said implant body in said straightened state.

11. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the locking element is a tightening element for bringing the implant body to the flexed deployed state of the implant body.

12. A method for deploying a medical device within a subject'"'"'s body, comprising:

(a) providing an implant body including a plurality of segments interconnected so as to assume a straightened state, and deflectable to assume a flexed deployed state, a plurality of said segments each having an engagement element;

(b) providing a locking element anchored to one of at least two different segments of the plurality of segments and extending along said implant body along a direction of elongation of the implant body, the locking element having projections corresponding to each of the engagement elements; and

(c) advancing the implant body into the subject'"'"'s body and applying rearward tension on said locking element such that the implant body is deflected to said flexed deployed state,

wherein said projections mate with corresponding one of said engagement elements so as to lock corresponding segments in said flexed deployed state, such that, when said implant body is deflected, each successive segment of said implant body flexes, and projections engage said engagement elements only for those segments that have already flexed.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising releasing the locking element from an anchor and pulling out the locking element from the implant body.