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US 2010/0249928 A1Published application
Distensible ligament systems
AssigneeWarsaw Orthopedic, Inc.
InventorFrank J. Schwab
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Distensible ligaments and distensible ligament systems are provided, including apparatuses, systems, devices, hardware, methods, and combinations for distensible systems.
Claims22
A distensible ligament system, comprising:
- a ligament having a first span and a second span extending from said first span;
- a first anchor including a first receiver, said first anchor being structured for anchoring into a first bone tissue location, wherein said first receiver is structured to secure said first span to said first anchor;
- a second anchor having a second receiver, said second anchor being structured for anchoring into a second bone tissue location, wherein said second receiver is structured to secure said second span to said second anchor, and wherein said second receiver is structured to perform an in vivo release of at least a portion of said second span.
A system for controlling tension in a ligament, comprising:
- a sensor structured to provide a tension signal indicative of tension in said ligament;
- a variable receiver structured to perform an in vivo release of at least a portion of said ligament;
- a drive unit coupled to said variable receiver, wherein said drive unit is structured to receive a control signal, and in response thereto, to drive said variable receiver from a first position to a second position to perform said in vivo release;
- and
- a controller communicatively coupled to said sensor and to said drive unit, said controller being configured to execute program instructions to generate said control signal in response to said tension signal from said sensor.
2 more elements
A distensible ligament system, comprising:
- a ligament having a first span and a second span extending from said first span;
- means for anchoring said first span to a first bone tissue location;
- means for anchoring said second span to a second bone tissue location;
- and
- means for performing an in vivo release of at least a portion of said second span from said means for anchoring said second span.
2 more elements
A distensible ligament, comprising:
- a first extent having a first elasticity, said first extent being structured for anchoring at a first bone tissue location;
- a node extending from said first extent, said node having a second elasticity different from said first elasticity;
- and
- a second extent coupled to said node, said second extent having said first elasticity, said second extent being structured for anchoring at a second bone tissue location.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.