Cement-directing orthopedic implants
AssigneeGmedelaware 2 LLC
InventorsAndrew R. Sennett, William Harwick Gruber, Joseph Ernest Richard
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A cement-directing structure for use in cement-injection bone therapy includes a collapsible, self-restoring braided structure with regions of differential permeability to the bone cement. The regions of differential permeability may be provided by areas where the braided mesh density is greater or lesser than surrounding areas and/or by means of a baffle. After the structure is placed in a void within a bony structure, cement is injected into the interior of the structure then oozes out in preferred directions according to the locations of the regions of differential permeability.
Claims20
A surgical method comprising:
- inserting a device into a cavity in a patient in a first collapsed configuration;
- and
- expanding the device to a second expanded configuration in order to maintain walls of the cavity apart from each other,
- wherein the device includes a collapsible, self-expandable mesh structure having regions of different permeability or flow resistance, and wherein said mesh structure is a co-braided structure comprising primary members and secondary members occupying interstices between said primary members.
A surgical method comprising:
- inserting a device into a cavity of a patient, the device being in a compressed shape;
- expanding the device to an expanded shape, wherein the device comprises a compressible, shape-restoring hollow mesh structure, wherein said mesh structure has regions of different permeability, and wherein said mesh structure is a co-braided structure comprising primary members and secondary members occupying interstices between said primary members, and wherein the device further comprises one or more windows;
- and
- inserting bone cement into the device, wherein the mesh structure creates added flow resistance to the bone cement inserted into the device, and the windows direct the flow of bone cement placed in the device toward preferred directions.
A surgical method comprising:
- inserting into a cavity a device comprising a collapsible and self-expanding mesh framework, said device having a mesh structure that is co-braided with primary members and secondary members occupying interstices between the primary members, wherein said device is hollow and has first and second ends, wherein at least one of the first and second ends is closed;
- and
- injecting bone cement into the device while the device is within the cavity such that the bone cement is preferentially directed into the cavity.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.