Rigid segmented flexible anchors
AssigneeFormae, Inc.
InventorsKevin A. Mansmann, Edward J. Cheal
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A prosthetic implant replaces hyaline cartilage in a synovial joint with a flexible polymer sliding surface, preferably of hydrogel, on a segmented support with an array of adjacent segments to which the hydrogel is molded. Adjacent segments are laterally and angularly displaceable permitting the implant to conform to rounded or irregular surfaces or to be rolled or folded for arthroscopic placement. Tension cables threaded through segments along a circuit can cinch segments together for stiffening the supporting layer and/or the cable can pull the implant against a bone surface. Adjacent segments can have inter-engaged structures. In some embodiments the segments are carried on a flexible foil or fibrous sheet.
Claims20
An implant for emulating hyaline cartilage in an articulating mammalian joint, comprising:
- laterally adjacent segments encompassing an area of a surface corresponding to the hyaline cartilage,
- wherein each segment is a polygonal segment configured to be mechanically attached to adjacent segments, and
- wherein, when the segments are mechanically attached to one another, the segments are configured to diverge angularly from one another to conform to a topography to which the implant is to be attached.
An implant for emulating hyaline cartilage in an articulating mammalian joint, comprising:
- an array of polygonal segments comprising complementary hinging structures provided on edges of the polygonal segments to mechanically attach laterally adjacent segments in the array to one another, wherein each polygonal segment in the array defines cannulae running
- (i) through the associated complementary hinging structures parallel to the associated edges of the associated polygonal segment,
- (ii) through a center region of the associated polygonal segment perpendicular to the associated edges of the associated polygonal segment, or
- (iii) a combination thereof;
- and
- a tensioning cable configured to pass through a subset of cannulae of an associated subset of polygonal segments,
- wherein the polygonal segments in the array are configured to diverge angularly from one another to conform the array to a topography to which the implant is to be attached.
An implant for emulating hyaline cartilage in an articulating mammalian joint, comprising:
- polygonal segments encompassing an area of a surface corresponding to hyaline cartilage in an articulating mammalian joint,
- wherein each polygonal segment comprises complementary hinging structures provided on edges of the associated polygonal segment and configured to mechanically attach the associated polygonal segment to adjacent polygonal segments, and
- wherein lateral interspacings between adjacent polygonal segments are adjustable to enable the polygonal segments to conform to a topography to which the implant is to be attached.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.