Methods and apparatus for expandable medical device employing flexure members
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A medical device capable of being distracted from a collapsed configuration to an expanded configuration, comprising:
- a first end plate;
a second end plate; and
at least two struts extending between first and second end plates, each strut comprising first and second structural members and a block, wherein each structural member is connected at one end to one of the end plates with a flexure member and at an opposed end to the respective block with a flexure member,wherein each end plate provides at least a pair of backstops, the pair of backstops being continuous and symmetrical with each other, each backstop configured to provide a rolling contact for a different flexure connecting one of the structural members to the respective backstop that guides a curvature of the flexure to conform to a shape of the backstop as the first end plate and the second end plate are moved relative to each other from a compressed configuration to an expanded configuration.
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Abstract
Improved methods and apparatuses for expandable medical devices in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention employ flexure members. Flexure members connect a plurality of structural members to end plates on one end and blocks on another end. A drive screw or similar mechanism can be actuated to drive expansion blocks closer together, which causes flexure members to deflect, resulting in expansion of the structural members and distraction of the end plates.
200 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A medical device capable of being distracted from a collapsed configuration to an expanded configuration, comprising:
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a first end plate; a second end plate; and at least two struts extending between first and second end plates, each strut comprising first and second structural members and a block, wherein each structural member is connected at one end to one of the end plates with a flexure member and at an opposed end to the respective block with a flexure member, wherein each end plate provides at least a pair of backstops, the pair of backstops being continuous and symmetrical with each other, each backstop configured to provide a rolling contact for a different flexure connecting one of the structural members to the respective backstop that guides a curvature of the flexure to conform to a shape of the backstop as the first end plate and the second end plate are moved relative to each other from a compressed configuration to an expanded configuration. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 19)
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10. A medical device capable of being distracted from a collapsed configuration to an expanded configuration, comprising:
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a first end plate having an outer surface and an inner surface opposite the outer surface including at least one backstop; a second end plate having an outer surface and an inner surface opposite the outer surface including at least one backstop; and a plurality of struts extending between the inner surface of the first end plate and the inner surface of the second end plate, each strut comprising; an intermediate block having a first surface and an opposing second surface; a first structural member disposed between the first surface of the intermediate block and the inner surface of the first end plate and a second structural member disposed between the second surface of the intermediate block and the inner surface of the second end plate, each structural member including opposing end wrapping surfaces; and a flexure member disposed on each end wrapping surface of each structural member, the flexure members connecting each structural member to a respective one of the first and second surfaces of the intermediate block and to the inner surface of a respective one of the first end plate and the second end plate, wherein each structural member is rotatable with respect to the first end plate and the second end plate to move the first end plate and the second end plate relative to each other between a compressed configuration and an expanded configuration, and wherein in the compressed configuration the flexure members disposed between the intermediate block and the structural members conform to a shape of the end wrapping surfaces of the structural members and in the expanded configuration the flexure members disposed between the first end plate and the second end plate and the structural members conform to a shape of the backstop of the respective end plate. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification