# US 10,307,190 B2 · Arthrodesis devices for generating and applying compression within joints > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,307,190 B2 - Document ID: US10307190B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/489,067 - Filed: 2017-04-17 - Published: 2017-10-19 - Granted: 2019-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2016-04-15 - Assignees: Arthrex, Inc. - Applicants: Arthrex, Inc. - Inventors: Adam Garlock; William Michael Karnes; Matthew Fonte; Matthew Palmer; Robert Devaney; Alexander Delmonaco; Kaitlyn Nealon - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10307190B2 ## CPC - A61B 17/7291: {for small bones, e.g. in the foot, ankle, hand or wrist} - A61B 17/7225: {for bone compression} - A61B 17/7241: {the nail having separate elements through which screws pass} - A61B 2017/00862: {elastic or resilient} - A61B 2017/00867: {shape memory effect} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract Arthrodesis devices and arthrodesis procedures are disclosed herein. In an embodiment, an arthrodesis device includes a shape memory material connecting member attached to two points of fixation. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An arthrodesis device for performing tibio-talo-calcaneal (TTC) joint fusions, comprising: a nail body extending along a longitudinal axis between a proximal portion and a distal portion; a proximal slider housed inside the proximal portion; a distal slider housed inside the distal portion; a Nitinol rod connected to both the proximal slider and the distal slider; a first opening located within the proximal portion of the nail body and configured to receive a tibial screw; a second opening located within the distal portion of the nail body and configured to receive a talar screw; a third opening located within the distal portion of the nail body and configured to receive a calcaneal screw, wherein at least one of the first opening, the second opening, and the third opening is an elongated slot; and a cable connected to the distal slider; wherein the cable is tensionable to move the distal slider inside the nail body and thereby stretch the Nitinol rod. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The device as recited in claim 1, wherein the cable is looped through a non-threaded opening of the distal slider. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The device as recited in claim 2, wherein the non-threaded opening is distal of the talar screw and the calcaneal screw. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The device as recited in claim 1, wherein the distal slider includes at least three non-threaded openings and the proximal slider includes at least two non-threaded openings. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The device as recited in claim 4, wherein the cable is looped through a distal most opening of the at least three non-threaded openings. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The device as recited in claim 1, wherein the proximal slider includes a first length and the distal slider includes a second length that is greater than the first length. ### Claim 7 An arthrodesis device, comprising: a nail body extending along a longitudinal axis between a proximal portion and a distal portion; a proximal interlocking fixation body slidably received within a first cannulation located inside the proximal portion; a distal interlocking fixation body slidably received within a second cannulation located inside the distal portion; and a shape memory material connecting member attached to the proximal interlocking fixation body and the distal interlocking fixation body, wherein the shape memory material connecting member includes an elongated shaft extending between a first threaded portion and a second threaded portion. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The device as recited in claim 7, wherein the nail body includes at least one opening configured to receive a fixation device. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The device as recited in claim 7, wherein a first opening is located within the proximal portion of the nail body and receives a tibial screw, a second opening is located within the distal portion of the nail body and receives a talar screw, and a third opening is located within the distal portion of the nail body and receives a calcaneal screw. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The device as recited in claim 7, wherein the shape memory material connecting member is a rod made of Nitinol (NiTi). ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) The device as recited in claim 7, wherein, when the nail body is implanted, the shape memory material connecting member is movable between an unstretched position and a stretched position to generate a compressive force across bones of a joint. ### Claim 12 An arthrodesis device, comprising: a nail body extending along a longitudinal axis between a proximal portion and a distal portion; a proximal interlocking fixation body slidably received within a first cannulation located inside the proximal portion; a distal interlocking fixation body slidably received within a second cannulation located inside the distal portion; a shape memory material connecting member attached to the proximal interlocking fixation body and the distal interlocking fixation body; and a cable connected to the distal interlocking fixation body, wherein the cable is tensioned to move the distal interlocking fixation body inside the nail body. ### Claim 13 A method of performing an arthrodesis procedure, comprising: inserting an arthrodesis device within a joint; inserting a first fixation device through the arthrodesis device; inserting a second fixation device through the arthrodesis device; tensioning a cable of the arthrodesis device, wherein tensioning the cable alters a shape memory material connecting member of the arthrodesis device from an unstretched condition to a stretched condition; and releasing tension on the cable, wherein releasing the tension on the cable causes the shape memory material connecting member to move back toward the unstretched condition, thereby applying a compressive load across bones of the joint, wherein the shape memory material connecting member connects between a proximal interlocking fixation body slidably received within a first cannulation inside the arthrodesis device and a distal interlocking fixation body slidably received within a second cannulation inside the arthrodesis device. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method as recited in claim 13, wherein the joint is a tibio-talo-calcaneal (TTC) joint of an ankle. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The method as recited in claim 13, comprising, prior to inserting the arthrodesis device: inserting a guide wire into the joint; and reaming a passage through the joint for accommodating the arthrodesis device. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The method as recited in claim 13, wherein the first fixation device is calcaneal screw and the second fixation device is a tibial screw. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method as recited in claim 16, comprising: inserting a third fixation device through the arthrodesis device after inserting the second fixation device, wherein the third fixation device is either a talar screw or a calcaneal screw. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The method as recited in claim 13, wherein the cable is connected to the distal interlocking fixation body, wherein tensioning the cable includes: translating the distal interlocking fixation body in a proximal to distal direction. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method as recited in claim 18, wherein translating the distal interlocking fixation body moves the shape memory material connecting member of the arthrodesis device from the unstretched condition to the stretched condition. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method as recited in claim 19, wherein the proximal interlocking fixation body is fixed from movement prior to tensioning the cable. ### Claim 21 (depends on 19) The method as recited in claim 19, wherein inserting a third fixation device substantially locks a positioning of the distal interlocking fixation body.