Steerable spine implant and system
AssigneeAlphatec Spine, Inc.
InventorsThomas PURCELL, Morgan LORIO
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Embodiments of the invention being disclosed are directed to a spine implant that allows for in situ adjustment or steering during implantation which allows for precise placement. The structure of the device is composed of a series of hinged link components connected by dowel or shear pins allowing for the links to rotate with respect to each other. The steering feature of the device is activated by a series of tension members connected or coupled to the links. As the tension members are placed in tension, typically by pulling the appropriate member, forces are placed on the individual links to actuate/rotate them in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction. By controlling the rotation of the links, the device may be steered in the desired direction.
Claims20
A steerable spine implant, comprising:
- a plurality of links rotatably coupled together at a hinge point including a proximal link, one or more intermediate links, and a distal link;
- a plurality of tension members coupled to the intermediate and distal links, each link being coupled with first and second tension members on opposite sides of the hinge point,
- wherein activating the first tension member rotates the plurality of links in a clockwise direction and activating the second tension member rotates the plurality of links in a counterclockwise direction.
A steerable spine implant system, comprising:
- a guide wire;
- and
- a plurality of links rotatably coupled together at a hinge point including a proximal link, one or more intermediate links, and a distal link, each of the plurality of links include an aperture sized to slide over the guide wire, wherein when the plurality of links are coupled together, the apertures form a continuous guide wire channel from a proximal end to a distal end of the implant.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.