# US 2014/0156013 A1 · Unlinked Implantable Knee Unloading Device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0156013 A1 - Document ID: US20140156013A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/174,013 - Filed: 2014-02-06 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2007-05-01 - Assignees: Moximed, Inc. - Applicants: Moximed, Inc. - Inventors: Joshua Makower; Anton G. Clifford; Daniel Pfautz; David R. Schiff - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140156013A1 ## CPC - A61F 2/30: Joints - A61B 17/56: Surgical instruments or methods for treatment of bones or joints; Devices specially adapted therefor - A61B 17/68: Internal fixation devices {, including fasteners and spinal fixators, even if a part thereof projects from the skin (bone staples A61B17/0642)} - A61F 2/3836: {Special connection between upper and lower leg, e.g. constrained} - A61F 2/3845: {allowing only for single rotation} - A61F 2/3854: {with ball and socket joint} - A61B 17/8061: {specially adapted for particular bones (A61B17/70 and A61B17/74 take precedence)} - A61B 2017/567: {Joint mechanisms or joint supports in addition to the natural joints and outside the joint gaps} - A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C) - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract A system and method for sharing and absorbing energy between body parts. In one particular aspect, the system is an unlinked structure which facilitates absorbing energy between members forming a joint such as between articulating bones. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An implantable knee unloading device for a knee comprising: a first member configured to be affixed to a first member of a knee joint; a second member configured to be affixed to a second member of the knee joint; mating portions of the first and second members configured to contact one another to transmit force between the first and second members, wherein the mating portions are not connected to one another; wherein motion between the mating portions is confined to primarily pivoting motion, without substantial translating motion; and wherein the knee unloading device is configured to be implanted outside of the joint capsule and to absorb at least a portion of the total load applied to the knee during at least 5 degrees and during no more than 90 degrees of a natural range of motion of the knee. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the mating portions of the first and second members are substantially cone shaped. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the mating portions of the first and second members are substantially saddle shaped. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the mating portions of the first and second members form a ball and socket articulation. ### Claim 5 An implantable knee unloading device comprising: a first member configured to be affixed to a first member of a knee joint; a second member configured to be affixed to a second member of the knee joint; mating portions of the first and second members configured to contact one another to transmit forces between the first and second members, wherein the mating portions are not connected to one another; and wherein the entire knee unloading device is configured to be implanted entirely outside of the articulating surfaces of the knee. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The device of claim 5, further comprising an energy absorber comprising a biasing spring having a first spring force and a first length for biasing the mating portions into contact with one another throughout a natural range of motion of the knee, and a absorbing spring having a second spring force and a second length for absorbing at least a portion of the forces transmitted between the first and second members of the knee joint during at least a portion of the natural range of motion of the knee joint. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The device of claim 6, wherein the first spring force is less than the second spring force and the first length is longer than the second length. ### Claim 8 A method of treating a knee joint, comprising: attaching a first member to a first bone of the knee joint; attaching a second member to a second bone of the knee joint; arranging the first and second members so that they are entirely outside of articulating surfaces of the knee joint, forces are translated from the first member to the second member and the first and second members are not linked to each other. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, further comprising providing one or more of the first and second members with biasing structure and configuring the first and second members so that they remain in contact during a portion of flexion of the bones of the joint. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, further comprising providing one or more of the first and second members with a flexible mount and configuring the flexible mount so that longitudinal rotation of one of the first or second bones is accommodated by the flexible mount. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, further comprising providing an energy absorber spring to contribute to the unloading of the joint. ### Claim 12 An implantable load manipulating device for an articulating joint comprising: a first member configured to be affixed to a first member of a joint; a second member configured to be affixed to a second member of the joint; the first and second members configured to have a load manipulation state and a passive state wherein during the load manipulation state the first and second members are configured to form a continuous structure external to the joint and when in a passive state the first and second members form a discontinuous structure; and wherein during the continuous state the device is capable of transmission across the joint and during the discontinuous state the device is incapable of transmission load across the joint. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The device of claim 12, wherein at least one of the first and second members includes a load absorbing spring member. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The device of claim 12, wherein the first and second members include mating portions which remain in contact with one another in the continuous state. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The device of claim 12, wherein the first and second members are configured move between the continuous and discontinuous state automatically as a function of a flexion/extension angle of the joint to which the first and second members are affixed. ### Claim 16 An implantable knee unloading device for a knee, comprising: a first member configured to be affixed to a first member of a knee joint; and a second member configured to be affixed to a second member of the knee joint, the second member comprising a mating portion comprising a flexible tension member extending between two arms, wherein mating portions of the first and second members are configured to contact one another to transmit forces between the first and second members, and the mating portions are not connected to one another. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The device of claim 16, wherein the two arms extend from a base configured to be affixed to the second member of the knee joint. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The device of claim 17, wherein at least one of the two arms is adapted to deflect relative to a longitudinal axis of the base when the mating portions of the first and second members contact one another to transmit ordinary forces between the first and second members. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The device of claim 18, wherein both of the two arms are adapted to deflect relative to the base. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The device of claim 16, wherein the flexible tension member comprises a cable extending between the two arms. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The device of claim 20, wherein the cable is an endless cable. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The device of claim 21, wherein the cable extends around and contacts a tensioning member. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The device of claim 22, wherein the tensioning member comprises a resilient member arranged to be compressed when a load is applied to the tension member. ### Claim 24 (depends on 16) The device of claim 16, wherein the first member comprises a base configured to be affixed to the first member of the knee joint and a projection extending from the base arranged to contact the flexible tension member. ### Claim 25 (depends on 16) The device of claim 16, wherein the first member comprises a peg having a first end configured to be affixed in the first member of the knee joint and a second end, an exterior peripheral surface of the second end of the peg being arranged to contact the flexible tension member. ### Claim 26 An implantable knee unloading device for a knee, comprising: a first member configured to be affixed to a first member of a knee joint; and a second member configured to be affixed to a second member of the knee joint, the second member comprising a mating portion comprising a resilient, flexible ring, wherein mating portions of the first and second members are configured to contact one another to transmit forces between the first and second members, and the mating portions are not connected to one another. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The device of claim 26, wherein the second member comprises a base configured to be affixed to the second member of the knee joint, wherein the ring and base are integrally formed. ### Claim 28 (depends on 26) The device of claim 26, wherein the ring is adapted to be disposed outside of a capsule of the knee joint. ### Claim 29 (depends on 26) The device of claim 26, wherein the first member comprises a base configured to be affixed to the first member of the knee joint and a projection extending from the base arranged to contact the ring. ### Claim 30 (depends on 29) The device of claim 29, wherein an exterior peripheral shape of the ring is concave at least when the mating portions of the first and second members contact one another to transmit ordinary forces between the first and second members. ### Claim 31 (depends on 26) The device of claim 26, wherein the first member comprises a peg having a first end configured to be affixed in the first member of the knee joint and a second end, an exterior peripheral surface of the second end of the peg being arranged to contact the ring. ### Claim 32 (depends on 31) The device of claim 31, wherein an exterior peripheral shape of the ring is concave at least when the mating portions of the first and second members contact one another to transmit ordinary forces between the first and second members. ### Claim 33 An implantable knee unloading device for a knee, comprising: a first member comprising a first base configured to be affixed to a first member of a knee joint; and a second member comprising a second base configured to be affixed to a second member of the knee joint, wherein first and second mating portions of the first and second members, respectively, are configured to contact one another to transmit forces between the first and second members, the first and second mating portions are not connected to one another, and a resilient member is disposed between at least one of the first mating portion and the first base and the second mating portion and the second base. ### Claim 34 (depends on 33) The device of claim 33, wherein a first resilient member is disposed between the first mating portion and the first base and a second resilient member is disposed between the second mating portion and the second base. ### Claim 35 (depends on 33) The device of claim 33, wherein the first mating portion and the second mating portion both comprise convex surfaces arranged to contact each another to transmit ordinary forces between the first and second members. ### Claim 36 (depends on 33) The device of claim 33, wherein the first mating portion and the second mating portion both comprise convex surfaces arranged to contact each another to transmit ordinary forces between the first and second members. ### Claim 37 (depends on 33) The device of claim 33, wherein the resilient member is integrally formed with the one of the first mating portion and the first base and the second mating portion and the second base. ### Claim 38 (depends on 33) The device of claim 33, wherein one of the first mating portion and the second mating portion comprises a concave surface and the other of the first mating portion and the second mating portion comprises a convex surfaces arranged to contact the concave surface to transmit ordinary forces between the first and second members. ### Claim 39 (depends on 33) The device of claim 33, wherein the second mating portion comprises one of a rolling cylindrical head, a rolling ball head, and a solid sliding head for contacting the first mating portion. ### Claim 40 An implantable knee unloading device for a knee, comprising: a first member comprising a first base configured to be affixed to a first member of a knee joint; and a second member comprising a second base configured to be affixed to a second member of the knee joint, wherein first and second mating portions of the first and second members, respectively, are configured to contact one another to transmit forces between the first and second members, the first and second mating portions are not connected to one another, one of the first mating portion and the second mating portion comprising a spring beam. ### Claim 41 (depends on 40) The device of claim 40, wherein the other one of the first mating portion and the second mating portion comprises an abutment surface arranged to contact the spring beam. ### Claim 42 (depends on 40) The device of claim 40, wherein the spring beam is arranged in a plane which lies substantially vertically along the side of the knee joint when the knee joint is in a standing position.