# US 10,864,104 B2 · Methods of using a shape-formable apparatus comprising locking sheets > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,864,104 B2 - Document ID: US10864104B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/534,131 - Filed: 2015-12-14 - Published: 2017-12-21 - Granted: 2020-12-15 - Earliest claimed: 2014-12-19 - Assignees: 3M Innovative Properties Company - Applicants: 3M Innovative Properties Company - Inventors: Thomas R. Corrigan; Marc A. Egeland; Alan R. Dombrowski - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10864104B2 ## CPC - A61F 5/05833: {Splints rigidified by vacuum evacuation} - A61B 17/02: for holding wounds open, e.g. retractors; Tractors - A61F 5/01: Orthopaedic devices, e.g. long-term immobilising or pressure directing devices for treating broken or deformed bones such as splints, casts or braces - F16M 13/00: Other supports for positioning apparatus or articles (heads thereof F16M11/02 {; undercarriages thereof F16M11/20} ; adapted to be stuck in the ground A45F3/44 {; sockets or holders for poles or posts E04H12/22}); Means for steadying hand-held apparatus or articles {(supports for measuring instruments G01D11/30; supports for casings of remote control switching devices H01H9/025)} - A61B 2017/00004: {(bio)absorbable, (bio)resorbable or resorptive} - A61B 2017/00566: {fixation of form upon application of vacuum} - A61B 2017/00858: {high friction or non-slip} - A61B 2017/00862: {elastic or resilient} - A61B 2017/00889: {antimicrobial, disinfectant} - A61B 2017/00946: {malleable} - A61B 2017/00955: {thermoplastic} - A61B 2017/0212: {Cushions or pads, without holding arms, as tissue retainers, e.g. for retracting viscera} - A61B 2090/0801: {Prevention of accidental cutting or pricking} - B65D 81/02: specially adapted to protect contents from mechanical damage {(containers of polygonal cross-section provided with internal protecting elements for contents B65D5/50; devices to locate articles in containers B65D25/10)} - A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C) - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - F16M: FRAMES, CASINGS OR BEDS OF ENGINES, MACHINES OR APPARATUS, NOT SPECIFIC TO ENGINES, MACHINES OR APPARATUS PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE; STANDS; SUPPORTS - B65D: CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES ## Abstract Method of using a shape-formable apparatus. A shape-formable apparatus can include an envelope defining a chamber, a port positioned to fluidly couple the chamber with ambience, and at least two locking sheets positioned in the chamber in an at least partially overlapping configuration. Each locking sheet can include a major surface, and at least a portion of each locking sheet can be patterned to include solid regions and open regions, the solid regions being movable with respect to one another within the major surface. The method can include providing the shape-formable apparatus in a first state; forming the apparatus into a desired shape; and reducing the pressure in the chamber to change the apparatus from the first state to a second state in which the apparatus is substantially less formable than in the first state. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of using a shape-formable apparatus, the method comprising: providing a shape-formable apparatus in a first state in which the apparatus is formable, the shape-formable apparatus comprising: an envelope defining a chamber, the envelope formed of a gas-impermeable material; a port positioned to fluidly couple the chamber with ambience; and at least two locking sheets positioned in the chamber in an at least partially overlapping configuration, wherein each locking sheet comprises a major surface, and wherein at least a portion of each locking sheet is patterned to include solid regions and open regions, the solid regions of the same locking sheet are configured to move with respect to one another within the major surface of the same locking sheet, wherein the solid regions include a plurality of islands connected by one or more bridges, each island having an octagonal shape with one or more octagonal edges being connected to the one or more bridges; forming the apparatus into a desired shape when the apparatus is in the first state; and reducing a pressure in the chamber to change the apparatus from the first state to a second state in which the apparatus has the desired shape and is substantially less formable than in the first state. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein forming the apparatus into the desired shape includes forming the apparatus at least partially over a tissue or organ. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein providing the shape-formable apparatus includes providing a sheet-like shape-formable apparatus. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising increasing the pressure in the chamber to change the apparatus from the second state at least partially back to the first state. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein reducing the pressure in the chamber includes reducing the pressure below ambient pressure. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein forming the apparatus into the desired shape includes forming the at least two locking sheets into the desired shape. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein forming the apparatus into the desired shape includes moving the at least two locking sheets relative to one another in the chamber. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein forming the apparatus into the desired shape includes moving solid regions in at least one locking sheet relative to other solid regions in the same locking sheet, within the major surface, from a first position to a second position to be maintained, without plastic deformation, after an applied force is removed. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the solid regions of at least one locking sheet are formed of a material having an effective tensile modulus (Eo), and wherein the solid regions and open regions are arranged in the at least one locking sheet such that the at least one locking sheet has an overall effective tensile modulus (E1), and wherein the ratio of Eo/E1 for the at least one locking sheet is at least 2. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the at least two locking sheets are oriented substantially parallel with respect to one another. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein reducing the pressure in the chamber to change the apparatus from the first state to the second state includes increasing the stiffness of the apparatus by at least a factor of 2. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein reducing the pressure in the chamber to change the apparatus from the first state to the second state includes increasing an effective tensile modulus of the apparatus by at least a factor of 2. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein forming the apparatus into the desired shape when the apparatus is in the first state includes substantially conforming the apparatus to a complex surface having a non-zero Gaussian curvature. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein forming the apparatus into the desired shape when the apparatus is in the first state includes moving the at least two locking sheets relative to one another in the chamber. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein reducing the pressure in the chamber includes causing two or more locking sheets to inter-engage. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the islands are arranged in staggered rows and staggered columns. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein every other octagonal edge of each island is connected to one or more of the bridges.