Laser Type Fixation Member Securement Device and Activation System, and Related System and Methods
AssigneeDePuy Synthes Products, Inc.
InventorsSamuel Leuenberger, Dieter Schmidli
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A laser device having a proximal end and a distal end spaced from the proximal end, the distal end configured to receive a fixation member to be affixed to a target surgical site. The laser device includes a laser source supported by the laser device body and capable of emitting a laser beam to the distal end, wherein the laser source is responsive to at least one input so as to selectively switch between an inactive configuration whereby the laser source does not emit the laser beam, and an active configuration whereby the laser source emits the laser beam.
Claims66
A laser device having a distal end configured to support a fixation member to be affixed to a target surgical site, and a proximal end spaced apart from the distal end along a longitudinal direction, the laser device comprising:
- a laser device body;
- a laser source supported by the laser device body and capable of emitting a laser beam to the distal end, wherein the laser device is configured to switch between an inactive configuration whereby the laser source does not emit the laser beam, and an active configuration whereby the laser source emits the laser beam;
- a first actuator movable between a first position and an actuated position;
- and
- a second actuator moveable between a first position and an actuated position, whereby when at least one of the first actuator and the second actuator is in the first position the laser device is in the inactive configuration, and when the first actuator and the second actuator are in the respective actuated positions, the laser device is in the active configuration.
A laser device having a distal end configured to support a fixation member to be affixed to a target surgical site, a proximal end spaced apart from the distal end along a longitudinal direction, the laser device comprising:
- a laser device body;
- a laser source supported by the laser device body and capable of emitting a laser beam to the distal end, wherein the laser device is configured to switch between an inactive configuration whereby the laser source does not emit the laser beam, and an active configuration whereby the laser source emits the laser beam;
- and
- an actuator movable between a first position and an actuated position, whereby when the actuator is in the first position, the actuator interferes with switching of the laser device from the inactive configuration to the active configuration, and when the actuator is in the actuated position, the interference is removed.
A laser device comprising:
- a laser device body having a proximal end and a distal end spaced from the proximal end, the distal end configured to receive a fixation member to be affixed to a target surgical site;
- a laser source supported by the laser device body and capable of emitting a laser beam to the distal end, wherein the laser source is responsive to at least one input so as to selectively switch between an inactive configuration whereby the laser source does not emit the laser beam, and an active configuration whereby the laser source emits the laser beam.
An electrical circuit configured to be installed in a laser device of the type that includes a surgical fixation member support member, a power source, and a laser source responsive to power from the power source to emit a laser beam toward the fixation member support member, the electrical circuit comprising:
- an electrical conductor having first and second ends that are configured to be placed in electrical communication with the laser source and the power source, respectively;
- a first switch disposed between first and second portions of the electrical conductor at a location between the first and second ends, the first switch responsive to a first input so as to move between a normally open position and a closed position, wherein when the first switch is in the open position, the first and second portions are electrically isolated from each other, and when the first switch is in the closed position, the first and second portions are placed in electrical communication with each other;
- a second switch disposed between third and fourth portions of the electrical conductor at a location between the first and second ends, the second switch responsive to a second input that is different from the first input so as to move between a normally open position and a closed position, wherein when the second switch is in the open position, the third and fourth portions are electrically isolated from each other, and when the first switch is in the closed position, the third and fourth portions are placed in electrical communication with each other,
- wherein when the electrical circuit is installed in the laser device and the first and second switches are in their respective closed positions, the first and second ends are placed in electrical communication with each other so as to cause power to travel along the electrical conductor from the power source to the laser source.
A fixation member configured to be implanted at a target surgical location, the fixation member comprising:
- a polymeric body that is configured to receive energy from a Class 2, 3 or 4 laser beam and, in response to the received energy from the laser beam, soften at the target surgical location, wherein the polymeric body is configured to absorb a sufficient quantity of the received energy so as to emit no more than the energy of a Class 1 laser beam.
The fixation member of claim 54, comprising a coating on the polymeric body capable of absorbing the laser.
A method for affixing a fixation member to a target surgical location, the method comprising the steps of:
- engaging a fixation member a fixation member receiving end of a laser device of the type including a laser source and an actuator that is in a first position so as to prevent the laser source from emitting a laser beam;
- after the supporting step, inserting the fixation member at least partially into the target surgical location;
- during the inserting step, moving the actuator from the first position to an actuated position, such that the actuator does not prevent the laser source from emitting the laser beam;
- causing the laser source to emit the laser beam to the fixation member, thereby deforming the fixation member in the target surgical location.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.