Microfracture apparatuses and methods
First Claim
1. An apparatus comprising:
- a cannula having a first end, a second end, and a channel extending between the first end and the second end, the cannula having a primary portion and a distal portion between the primary portion and the second end, the distal portion configured such that a second end of the channel is disposed at a non-parallel angle relative to a first end of the channel;
a monolithic penetrator having a proximal end, a distal end, a first transverse dimension of less than 1.2 millimeters (mm), the penetrator configured to be disposed in the channel of the cannula such that the penetrator is movable between a retracted position and an extended position in which the distal end extends beyond the second end of the cannula by a penetration distance;
an enlarged head coupled to the proximal end of the monolithic penetrator such that the enlarged head is configured to contact the cannula to limit the penetration distance;
where the penetrator is configured to be moved from the retracted position to the extended position substantially without rotation of the penetrator to form in subchondral bone a microfracture; and
where a portion of the penetrator is configured to flex to permit the distal end of the penetrator to align with the angle of the second end of the channel in the cannula as the penetrator moves between the retracted and extended positions.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Microfracture apparatuses with a cannula and a penetrator. The cannula has a first end, a second end, and a channel extending between the first end and the second end through which a penetrator can move between a retracted and an extended position substantially without rotation of the penetrator. The cannula has a primary portion and a distal portion between the primary portion and the second end, with the distal portion configured such that the distal portion and/or the second end of the channel is disposed at a nonparallel angle relative to the primary portion, for example, with a curve between the primary portion and the distal portion. The penetrator is configured to flex around such a curve and/or to flex to align with the angle of the send end of the channel and/or the distal portion of the cannula.
111 Citations
19 Claims
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1. An apparatus comprising:
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a cannula having a first end, a second end, and a channel extending between the first end and the second end, the cannula having a primary portion and a distal portion between the primary portion and the second end, the distal portion configured such that a second end of the channel is disposed at a non-parallel angle relative to a first end of the channel; a monolithic penetrator having a proximal end, a distal end, a first transverse dimension of less than 1.2 millimeters (mm), the penetrator configured to be disposed in the channel of the cannula such that the penetrator is movable between a retracted position and an extended position in which the distal end extends beyond the second end of the cannula by a penetration distance; an enlarged head coupled to the proximal end of the monolithic penetrator such that the enlarged head is configured to contact the cannula to limit the penetration distance; where the penetrator is configured to be moved from the retracted position to the extended position substantially without rotation of the penetrator to form in subchondral bone a microfracture; and where a portion of the penetrator is configured to flex to permit the distal end of the penetrator to align with the angle of the second end of the channel in the cannula as the penetrator moves between the retracted and extended positions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. An apparatus comprising:
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a cannula having a first end, a second end, and a channel extending between the first end and the second end, the cannula having a primary portion and a distal portion between the primary portion and the second end, and a curve between the primary portion and the distal portion such that the distal portion is disposed at a nonparallel angle relative to the primary portion; a monolithic penetrator having a proximal end, a distal end, and a first transverse dimension of less than 1.2 millimeters (mm), the penetrator configured to be disposed in the channel of the cannula such that the penetrator is movable between a retracted position and an extended position in which the distal end extends beyond the second end of the cannula by a penetration distance; where the penetrator is configured to be moved from the retracted position to the extended position substantially without rotation of the penetrator to form in subchondral bone a microfracture; and where a portion of the penetrator is configured to flex around the curve in the cannula as the penetrator moves between the retracted and extended positions. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification