Methods and devices for intracorporeal bonding of implants with thermal energy
First Claim
1. A method of stabilizing a bone comprising the steps of:
- placing a rod having a longitudinal axis and a substantially uniform shape throughout its entirety into a cavity of the bone;
creating a passageway through a cortex of the bone extending to the rod positioned in the cavity of the bone, wherein the passageway through the bone is laterally offset from the longitudinal axis of the rod;
inserting a fastener through the passageway created in the bone toward the rod, wherein the fastener is positioned laterally offset from the longitudinal axis of the rod;
contacting the fastener against an outer surface of a portion of the rod; and
applying ultrasonic energy to the fastener to bond the fastener to the outer surface of the rod.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides a method for stabilizing a fractured bone. The method includes positioning an elongate rod in the medullary canal of the fractured bone and forming a passageway through the cortex of the bone. The passageway extends from the exterior surface of the bone to the medullary canal of the bone. The method also includes creating a bonding region on the elongate rod. The bonding region is generally aligned with the passageway of the cortex. Furthermore, the method includes positioning a fastener in the passageway of the cortex and on the bonding region of the elongate rod and thermally bonding the fastener to the bonding region of the elongate rod while the fastener is positioned in the passageway of the cortex.
805 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of stabilizing a bone comprising the steps of:
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placing a rod having a longitudinal axis and a substantially uniform shape throughout its entirety into a cavity of the bone; creating a passageway through a cortex of the bone extending to the rod positioned in the cavity of the bone, wherein the passageway through the bone is laterally offset from the longitudinal axis of the rod; inserting a fastener through the passageway created in the bone toward the rod, wherein the fastener is positioned laterally offset from the longitudinal axis of the rod; contacting the fastener against an outer surface of a portion of the rod; and applying ultrasonic energy to the fastener to bond the fastener to the outer surface of the rod. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of stabilizing a bone comprising the steps of:
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placing a rod having a substantially uniform shape throughout its entirety into bone, with at least a portion of the rod including metal and at least a portion of the rod extending through cancellous bone tissue and into an intramedullary portion of the bone; creating a passageway through a cortex of the bone extending to the rod in the intramedullary portion of the bone; inserting a leading end of a fastener having an outer surface including polymer through the passageway created in the bone, whereby a side surface proximate the leading end of the fastener contacts an outer surface of the rod along a contact area; and applying ultrasonic energy to a trailing end of the fastener, whereby vibration along the contact area causes the fastener to bond to the outer surface of the rod proximate the leading end of the fastener within the intramedullary portion of the bone. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification