Systems and methods for joint stabilization

• US 9,254,195 B2
• Filed: 11/21/2014
• Issued: 02/09/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/19/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Illuminoss Medical, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Illuminoss Medical, Inc.
• Inventors: Rabiner, Robert A., Gausepohl, Thomas, DiPoto, Gene P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sharma, Yashita
• Application Number:
  US14/550,051
• Publication Number:
  US 20150088268A1
• Time in Patent Office: 445 Days
• Field of Search: 623 1711- 1811, 606/61, 606/62, 606/63, 606/68, 606/70, 606/86, 606 92- 94, 606/105, 606190-197, 606/262, 606280-298, 604 20- 21
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7079 Tools requiring anchors to be already mounted on an implanted longitudinal or transverse element, e.g. where said element guides the anchor motion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7097 Stabilisers comprising fluid filler in an implant, e.g. balloon; devices for inserting or filling such implants disc prostheses made of inflatable chambers or pockets filled with fluid A61F2/441; replacing the nucleus pulposus A61F2002/444
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7216 for bone lengthening or compression A61B17/7258 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7275 with expanding cylindrical parts
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7291 for small bones, e.g. in the foot, ankle, hand or wrist
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/30 Joints
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30583 filled with hardenable fluid, e.g. curable in-situ
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/0085 hardenable in situ, e.g. epoxy resins

Abstract

Photodynamic devices for stabilizing a joint are provided. In some embodiments, a photodynamic joint spacer is provided that includes an expandable member configured for attachment to a bone having an excised region; a formable bar configured for attachment to the bone along at least a portion of the expandable member; and a light-sensitive liquid passed into the expandable member to expand the expandable member, wherein the expandable member is shaped by the formable bar to a shape resembling the excised region of the bone, and wherein the light-sensitive liquid is curable upon exposure to light energy to set the expandable member in the shape resembling the excised region to form a photodynamic joint spacer.

Claims

1. A photodynamic joint spacer comprising:

an expandable member configured for attachment to a bone having an excised region;

a formable bar configured for attachment to the bone along at least a portion of the expandable member; and

a light-sensitive liquid passed into the expandable member to expand the expandable member, wherein the expandable member is shaped by the formable bar to a shape resembling the excised region of the bone, and

wherein the light-sensitive liquid is curable upon exposure to light energy to set the expandable member in the shape resembling the excised region of the bone to form a photodynamic joint spacer.

2. The photodynamic joint spacer of claim 1, wherein the formable bar conforms to an outer surface of the bone.

3. The photodynamic joint spacer of claim 1, wherein the formable bar is semi-cylindrical for conformal attachment of the formable bar to an outer surface of the bone.

4. The photodynamic joint spacer of claim 1, wherein the expandable member is insertable into an intramedullary cavity of the bone.

5. The photodynamic joint spacer of claim 1 further comprising an inner lumen in the expandable member to provide kink resistance to the expandable member.

6. The photodynamic joint spacer of claim 1 further comprising an inner lumen in the expandable member for insertion of a light conducting fiber into the expandable member for providing light energy to the light-sensitive liquid.

7. The photodynamic joint spacer of claim 1 further comprising retaining members for attaching the expandable member to the formable bar.

8. The photodynamic joint spacer of claim 1, wherein the expandable member is bent by the formable member to a natural angle of the excised region of the bone.

9. The photodynamic joint spacer of claim 1, wherein the formable bar includes a semi-cylindrical shape to assist with a conformal attachment of the formable bar to an outer surface of the bone.

10. The photodynamic joint spacer of claim 1, wherein the formable bar is mounted partially to an internal side of the cavity of the bone, such that a distal end of the expandable member extends outside and beyond the cavity parallel to the formable bar.

11. The photodynamic joint spacer of claim 1, wherein the formable bar is removably attached to the bone, the formable bar is shaped to substantially conform to a surface of the bone to which the formable bar is removably attached.

12. The photodynamic joint spacer of claim 1, wherein the formable bar is configured for attachment to the bone adjacent the expandable member to shape the expandable member.

13. The photodynamic joint spacer of claim 1, wherein the formable bar is one of between 0.5 mm to 4.0 mm thick, between 1.0 cm and 6.0 cm wide, having a length 30.0 cm or more or some combination thereof.

14. The photodynamic joint spacer of claim 1, wherein the light-sensitive liquid is passed into the expandable member to expand the expandable member from a deflated state to an inflated state when the light-sensitive liquid enters the expandable member.