Bone staples and methods of use therefor and manufacturing thereof
OwnerDaniel F. Cheneyinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A staple includes a staple bridge and a plurality of staple legs adjoined to the staple bridge. The staple bridge is a shape memory metal, and includes a bridge-shape movable between a first shape and a second shape with no substantial plastic deformation of the staple bridge. The plurality of staple legs are shape memory metal and movable between a first shape and a second shape. The staple stores mechanical energy when the bridge and the plurality of legs move from their first shape to their second shape. The staple releases the stored mechanical energy without a change in temperature of the staple when the bridge and the plurality of legs moved from their second shape to their first shape.
Claims71
A staple, comprising:
- (a) a staple bridge, wherein:
- (i) the staple bridge comprises a shape memory metal,
- (ii) the staple bridge has a bridge-shape such that the bridge can move between a first shape and a second shape with no substantial plastic deformation of the staple bridge, and
- (iii) the bridge shape is selected from the group consisting of an S-shaped staple bridge shape and O-shaped staple bridge shape;
- and
- (b) a plurality of staple legs adjoined to the staple bridge, wherein:
- (i) the plurality of staple legs comprise the shape memory metal,
- (ii) the staple is operable for moving between a non-parallel shape and a parallel shape without substantial plastic deformation of the staple,
- (iii) the staple is in the non-parallel shape when the staple bridge is in the first shape and the staple legs are not substantially parallel,
- (iv) the staple is in the parallel shape when the staple is in the second shape and the staple legs are substantially parallel,
- (v) the staple is operable for storing mechanical energy when the staple is in the parallel shape, and
- (vi) the staple is operable for moving substantially to the non-parallel shape when stored mechanical energy is released without a change in temperature of the staple.
A method for a staple, comprising:
- forming a staple in a first shape;
- applying mechanical energy to the staple to move the staple to a second shape, wherein at least some of the mechanical energy is stored in the staple due to elastic deformation of the staple;
- constraining the staple in the second shape;
- and
- maintaining the staple in the second shape, wherein the mechanical energy is operable for moving the staple substantially toward the first shape when the staple is unconstrained.
The method of claim 26, wherein the staple is cut using a three-dimensional cutting technique.
A method of manufacturing a staple movable between a first shape and a second shape, comprising:
- cutting a first view of the staple from a first face of a rod;
- cutting a second view of the staple from a second face of the rod;
- and
- cutting a third view of the staple from a third face of the rod, thereby forming the staple in a first shape.
A method for connecting a first bone structure with a second bone structure, comprising:
- providing a staple comprising a bridge and first and second legs;
- moving the bridge from a first shape to a second shape with no substantial plastic deformation of the bridge;
- moving the first and second legs from a first shape to a second shape with no substantial plastic deformation of the first and second legs;
- constraining the bridge and the first and second legs in their second shapes;
- inserting the first leg in the first bone structure and the second leg in the second bone structure;
- and
- releasing the bridge and the first and second legs, wherein the bridge and first and second legs move from their second shapes to their first shapes without a change in temperature in the staple, thereby connecting the first bone structure with the second bone structure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.