Methods and devices for utilizing bondable materials

• US 9,439,642 B2
• Filed: 02/24/2010
• Issued: 09/13/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: P TECH, LLC
• Original Assignee: P TECH, LLC
• Inventors: Bonutti, Peter M., Cremens, Matthew J., Beyers, Justin E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Merene, Jan Christopher
• Assistant Examiner(s): COTRONEO, STEVEN J
• Application Number:
  US12/711,540
• Publication Number:
  US 20100211120A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,393 Days
• Field of Search: 606 62- 68, 606280-331, 606/86.B
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0401 Suture anchors, buttons or pledgets, i.e. means for attaching sutures to bone, cartilage or soft tissue; Instruments for applying or removing suture anchors A61B17/0642 takes precedence; fixation devices for tendons or ligaments A61F2/0811
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/11 for performing anastomosis; Buttons for anastomosis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1128 of nerves
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1146 of tendons
• 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 17/7059 Cortical plates A61B17/7007, A61B17/7058 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7233 with special means of locking the nail to the bone
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7266 with fingers moving radially outwardly
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/866 Material or manufacture
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8685 comprising multiple separate parts
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/88 Osteosynthesis instruments; Methods or means for implanting or extracting internal or external fixation devices A61B17/7074 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8836 for heating, cooling or curing of bone cement or fluid fillers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8872 Instruments for putting said fixation devices against or away from the bone A61B17/7074, A61B17/808 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/005 hardenable using external energy source, e.g. laser, ultrasound
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0409 Instruments for applying suture anchors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/044 with a threaded shaft, e.g. screws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/1107 for blood vessels
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/32007 with suction or vacuum means
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0811 Fixation devices for tendons or ligaments
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/30 Joints
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/30721 : Accessories
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/30756 : Cartilage endoprostheses A61F2/3603 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/3094 : Designing or manufacturing processes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/32 : for the hip
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/34 : Acetabular cups
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/36 : Femoral heads ; Femoral endoprostheses
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/3603 : implanted without ablation of the whole natural femoral head endoprosthetic cartilage A61F2/30756
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/38 : for elbows or knees
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/3804 : for elbows
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/3859 : Femoral components
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/389 : Tibial components A61F2/3868 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/40 : for shoulders
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4081 : Glenoid components, e.g. cups
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4202 : for ankles
• 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 2/46 : Special tools or methods for implanting or extracting artificial joints, accessories, bone grafts or substitutes, or particular adaptations therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/468 : Testing instruments for artificial joints for testing non-implantable prostheses A61F2/76
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/067 : modular
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/2817 : Bone stimulation by chemical reactions or by osteogenic or biological products for enhancing ossification, e.g. by bone morphogenetic or morphogenic proteins [BMP] or by transforming growth factors [TGF]
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30062 : (bio)absorbable, biodegradable, bioerodable, (bio)resorbable, resorptive
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30065 : thermoplastic, i.e. softening or fusing when heated, and hardening and becoming rigid again when cooled
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30067 : Coating or prosthesis-covering structure made of thermoplastic material
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30133 : kidney-shaped or bean-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30451 : soldered or brazed or welded
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30576 : with extending fixation tabs
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30604 : modular
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30677 : Means for introducing or releasing pharmaceutical products, e.g. antibiotics, into the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3068 : the pharmaceutical product being in a reservoir
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30785 : parallel
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30787 : inclined obliquely with respect to each other
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30878 : with non-sharp protrusions, for instance contacting the bone for anchoring, e.g. keels, pegs, pins, posts, shanks, stems, struts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30892 : parallel
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30894 : inclined obliquely with respect to each other
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30971 : Laminates, i.e. layered products
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30973 : Two joined adjacent layers having complementary interlocking protrusions and recesses
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3401 : with radial apertures, e.g. radial bores for receiving fixation screws
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3403 : Polar aperture
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/444 : for replacing the nucleus pulposus
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4619 : for extraction
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4683 : by applying ultrasonic vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/0004 : bioabsorbable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/0071 : thermoplastic
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0058 : soldered or brazed or welded
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0015 : Kidney-shaped, e.g. bean-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0068 : the pharmaceutical product being in a reservoir
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00011 : Metals or alloys
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00365 : Proteins; Polypeptides; Degradation products thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00383 : Gelatin
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00952 : Coating, pre-coating or prosthesis-covering structure made of bone cement, e.g. pre-applied PMMA cement mantle
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 24/001 : Use of materials characterised by their function or physical properties
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 24/046 : obtained otherwise than by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds A61L24/043 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 33/04 : Homopolymers or copolymers of esters C08L43/04 takes precedence

Abstract

The invention primarily relates to fastening and stabilizing tissues, implants, and/or bondable materials, such as the fastening of a tissue and/or implant to a bondable material, the fastening of an implant to tissue, and/or the fastening of an implant to another implant. This may involve using an energy source to bond and/or mechanically to stabilize a tissue, an implant, a bondable material, and/or other biocompatible material. The invention may also relate to the use of an energy source to remove and/or install an implant and/or bondable material or to facilitate solidification and/or polymerization of bondable material.

Claims

1. A method of utilizing a bondable material to position a fastening implant in a body, said method comprising:

engaging an end effector and at least a trailing end of the fastening implant;

passing at least a portion of the end effector and the fastening implant into the body;

positioning at least a leading end surface of the fastening implant in contact with the bondable material, such that the leading end surface directly contacts the surface of the bondable material, wherein the bondable material is fixed inside the body;

applying vibratory energy to at least the trailing end of the fastening implant, thereby transmitting vibratory energy to the leading end of the fastener to soften at least a portion of the bondable material in contact with the leading end surface, such that the bondable material mechanically interlocks with at least a portion of the leading end of the fastening implant when the bondable material is solidified; and

disengaging the end effector from the trailing end of the fastening implant.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the bondable material is at least one of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), polyaryletherketone (PAEK), polyetheretherketone (PEEK), polyetherketoneketone (PEKK), and Poly-l-lactide (PLLA).

3. The method of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the fastening implant is bonded into the bondable material.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the bondable material is substantially hard before application of energy.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the bondable material flows into the fastening implant to secure the at least a portion of the fastening implant to the bondable material.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein disengaging the end effector from the trailing end of the fastening implant includes rotationally disengaging the end effector from the fastening implant.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the fastening implant includes at least a portion of titanium.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the fastening implant includes at least a portion of at least one of stainless steel, nitinol, tantalum, porous tantalum, titanium, cobalt-chrome alloy, polyaryletherketone (PAEK), poly etheretherketone (PEEK), polyetherketoneketone (PEKK), and Poly-l-lactide (PLLA).

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the fastening implant includes at least a portion of titanium and at least a portion of a polymer.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein applying vibratory energy includes applying ultrasonic energy.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the fastening implant stabilizes a bone of a body by embedding in a previously hardened bondable material adjacent to the bone.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein disengaging the end effector from the trailing end of the fastening implant includes disengaging the end effector from the fastening implant when the bondable material solidifies and mechanically interlocks with the fastening implant.

13. A method of utilizing a bondable material adjacent a tissue in a body, said method comprising:

passing an embedding implant and at least a portion of an end effector into the body;

positioning at least a leading end surface of the embedding implant in contact with the bondable material, such that the leading end surface directly contacts the surface of the bondable material, wherein the bondable material is fixed inside the body;

applying vibratory energy to the embedding implant to embed the embedding implant into at least a portion of the bondable material; and

engaging a fastening implant with the embedding implant to remain in the body to secure the tissue.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein embedding the embedding implant into at least a portion of the bondable material includes bonding the embedding implant to the bondable material.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein the bondable material is at least one of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), polyaryletherketone (PAEK), polyetheretherketone (PEEK), polyetherketoneketone (PEKK), and Poly-l-lactide (PLLA).

16. The method of claim 13 wherein applying vibratory energy includes applying ultrasonic energy.

17. The method of claim 13 wherein the bondable material has previously polymerized before positioning the embedding implant.

18. The method of claim 13 wherein applying vibratory energy includes applying vibratory energy to enable the bondable material to flow around the fastening implant.

19. The method of claim 13 wherein applying vibratory energy includes applying vibratory energy to enable the bondable material to flow into the fastening implant.

20. A method of utilizing a bondable material adjacent a tissue in a body, said method comprising:

engaging an embedding implant and an end effector;

passing the embedding implant and at least a portion of the end effector into the body;

positioning at least a leading end surface of the embedding implant in contact with the bondable material, such that the leading end surface directly contacts the surface of the bondable material, wherein the bondable material is fixed inside the body;

applying vibratory energy to the embedding implant to embed the embedding implant into at least a portion of the bondable material;

positioning a supporting implant adjacent the tissue; and

engaging a fastening implant with the embedding implant to remain in the body to secure the supporting implant adjacent the tissue.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein the embedding implant is bonded to the bondable material.

22. The method of claim 20 wherein the bondable material is at least one of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), polyaryletherketone (PAEK), polyetheretherketone (PEEK), polyetherketoneketone (PEKK), and Poly-l-lactide (PLLA).

23. The method of claim 20 wherein vibratory energy includes ultrasonic energy.

24. The method of claim 20 wherein the bondable material has previously polymerized before positioning the embedding implant.

25. The method of claim 20 wherein bondable material flows around the fastening implant during application of vibratory energy.

26. The method of claim 20 wherein the bondable material flows into the fastening implant during application of vibratory energy.

27. The method of claim 20 wherein the supporting implant includes a plate.

28. The method of claim 20 wherein the tissue includes a bone of the body.