Back to results
US 2003/0199881 A1Published application
Method and apparatus for use in operating on a bone
AssigneeBonutti Skeletal Innovations LLC
InventorPeter M. Bonutti
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Loading patent…
Loading patent…
AssigneeBonutti Skeletal Innovations LLC
InventorPeter M. Bonutti
Estimating the term…
The relationship between first and second portions of a bone in a patient's body is changed by moving a wedge member into a slot formed in the bone. Force is applied against hard cortical bone by the wedge member. This force pivots the first portion of the bone relative to the second portion of the bone about an axis extending through bone interconnecting the first and second portions of the bone. As the wedge member moves into the bone, a side surface of the wedge member is moved into alignment with an outer side surface of the bone. The wedge member is fixedly connected with the bone. The wedge member is rigid so that the bone can immediately be load bearing. One or more openings may be provided in the wedge member to enable bone to grow through the wedge member. The wedge member may contain a material which promotes growth of bone through the wedge member.
An implantable device for changing the spatial relationship between first and second bone segments, the device comprising a wedge member having thin and thick edges and a side surface extending from one end of the thin edge along the thick edge to an opposite end of the thin edge, wherein the wedge member is made of a biocompatible metallic material and has a open cellular structure to provide cavities in which bone can grow through.
An implantable device for changing the spatial relationship between first and second bone segments, the device comprising a wedge member having thin and thick edges and a side surface extending from one end of the thin edge along the thick edge to an opposite end of the thin edge, wherein the wedge member is made of tantalum and has a open cellular structure providing cavities in which bone can grow through.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.