Implantable bone distraction device and method
AssigneeFoster-Miller, Inc.
InventorsNicholas Vitale, Arthur Donahue, Scott Wheeler
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A self-contained, implantable bone distraction device is provided. The device is controlled by a programmable microcontroller that communicates with the outside world wirelessly, for example, via radio frequency or infrared. The microcontroller can be instructed, for example, to initiate an immediate distraction, or to stop a distraction in progress. Nitinol wire is used in conjunction with a one-way clutch to cause a distraction increment. The length of the wire is maintained after deactivation mechanically. Optional sensors allow the monitoring of the amount of actual distraction or the distraction force experienced by the bone under distraction.
Claims31
A bone distraction device, comprising:
- a distraction driver for incrementally distracting bone and minimizing backlash;
- an actuator coupled to the distraction driver for actuating the distraction driver;
- and
- a microcontroller electrically coupled to the actuator for controlling the actuator;
- at least one of a wireless communications receiver electrically coupled to the microcontroller for receiving information and a wireless communications transmitter electrically coupled to the microcontroller for transmitting information;
- wherein the bone distraction device is implantable.
A system for bone distraction, comprising:
- a bone distraction device, comprising:
- a distraction driver for incrementally distracting bone and minimizing backlash;
- an actuator coupled to the distraction driver for actuating the distraction driver using a shape memory alloy;
- a microcontroller electrically coupled to the actuator for controlling the actuator;
- and
- a wireless communications transceiver electrically coupled to the microcontroller for transmitting and receiving information;
- wherein the bone distraction device is implantable;
- and
- a wireless communications device for transmitting information to and receiving information from the wireless communications transceiver.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.