Modular spacer device
OwnerAugusto Magagnoliinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A modular spacer device implantable in the human body for the treatment of an infected articular seat includes a stem element, a head or ball element and coupling elements between the stem element and the head, wherein such coupling elements comprise a plurality of elongated teeth, placed at pre-established distances from each other, and a plurality of housing seats for the teeth.
Claims28
Modular spacer device (1), implantable in the human body for the treatment of an infected articular seat, comprising a stem element (2), coupling means (3) and a head or ball element (4), wherein said stem element (2) can be coupled to a bone bed and said head or ball element (4) can be inserted in an area of the articular seat of the patient, wherein said stem element (2) can be removably connected by means of said coupling means (3) to said head or ball element (4) and wherein said coupling means (3) are positioned between said stem element (2) and said head or ball element (4), characterized in that said coupling means (3) comprise at least one tooth (5) and/or at least one projection (5A) and at least one seat (6, 6A), wherein said at least one tooth (5) and/or at least one projection (5A) is adapted to be housed inside said at least one seat (6, 6A), in a manner such to vary the distance (D) between said head or ball element (4) and said stem element (2) based on the anatomical characteristics of the patient.
Modular spacer device (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein said head or ball element (4) comprises a cavity (7) for housing said shank (12), wherein said cavity (7) comprises a lateral surface (7′).
Modular spacer device (1) according to the preceding claims, wherein said flat base (B) of the stem element (2) and a base surface (11) of the head or ball element (4) are placed at a distance (D), wherein said coupling means (3) are adapted to vary or adjust said distance (D).
Modular spacer device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a plurality of teeth (5) and/or projections (5A) and/or a plurality of seats (6, 6A) in a manner such that by varying the connection or coupling position of said teeth (5) and/or projections (5A) in said seats (6, 6A) it is possible to adjust the distance (D) between said head or ball element (4) and said stem element (2).
Modular spacer device (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein said plurality of teeth (5) comprises teeth (5) placed parallel and at preset distances (F) from each other.
Modular spacer device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said at least one tooth (5) and/or said at least one projection (5A) and said at least one seat (6, 6A) constitute a snap coupling mechanism or a bayonet coupling mechanism.
Modular spacer device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said shank (12) comprises a lateral surface (2′″) and has a configuration corresponding to that of said cavity (7).
Modular spacer device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said at least one tooth (5) is placed on said lateral surface (2′″) of said shank (12) and said at least one seat (6) is obtained at the lateral surface (7′) of said cavity (7).
Modular spacer device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims from 1 to 9, wherein said at least one tooth (5) is placed at the lateral surface (7′) of said cavity (7) and said at least one seat (6) is obtained on said lateral surface (2′″) of said shank (12) or wherein said at least one tooth (5) is placed at said lateral surface (2′″) of said shank (12), said at least one seat (6A) is obtained at said lateral surface (2′″) of said shank (12) and said at least one projection (5A) is obtained on said lateral surface (7′) of said cavity (7).
Modular spacer device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said shank (12) has a cylinder shape with height (h) and diameter (d).
Modular spacer device (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein said cavity (7) has dome shape with cylindrical base with height and diameter slightly greater than or equal to said diameter (d) and height (h) of said shank (12).
Modular spacer device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said at least one tooth (5) has an annular shape and said at least one seat (6, 6A) comprises an annular cavity.
Modular spacer device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said at least one tooth (5) comprises trimming (13) adapted to improve and render more stable and/or easy the coupling of said at least one tooth (5) in said at least one seat (6).
Modular spacer device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said at least one tooth (5) is configured as an open ring, comprising at least one opening (C) along said ring.
Modular spacer device (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein said at least one opening (C) determines a channel for the insertion of said at least one projection (5A).
Modular spacer device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said at least one tooth (5) has rectangular, oval, triangular or other shape and/or wherein said plurality of teeth (5) are arranged in rows or in columns.
Modular spacer device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said stem element (2) and/or said head or ball element (4) comprises at least one recess (8) for housing a filling material comprising at least one pharmaceutical or medical substance.
Method for the assembly of the modular spacer device (1) implantable in the human body for the treatment of an infected articular seat according to any one of the claims from 1 to 19, comprising the steps of
- providing a head or ball element (4), a stem element (2) provided with a shank (12) and coupling means (3), wherein said head or ball element (4) comprises a cavity or hole (7) for housing said shank (12) of said stem element (2), wherein said coupling means (3) are positioned between said stem element (2) and said head or ball element (4),
- removably connecting said stem element (2) by means of said coupling means (3) to said head or ball element (4), said coupling means (3) comprising at least one tooth (5) and/or at least one projection (5A) and at least one seat (6, 6A),
- at least partially inserting said shank (12) in said cavity (7),
- housing said at least one tooth (5) and/or said at least one projection (5A) inside said at least one seat (6, 6A), in a manner such to vary and/or select the distance (D) between said head or ball element (4) and said stem element (2) based on the anatomical characteristics of the patient.
Method according to any one of the claims from 20 to 22, comprising the steps of providing a plurality of teeth (5) with open-ring form, having at least one opening (C) along each tooth (5), wherein said teeth (5) are spaced out by at least one seat (6A), and at least one projection (5A) adapted to be inserted at the opening (C) of said teeth (5), inserting said projection in said opening (C) and making it slide up to the desired distance from said flat base (B) of said stem element (2), once said distance is attained, rotating said head or ball element (4) in a manner so as to make said projection penetrate and slide in said seat (6A), i.e. in the space between said one tooth (5) and the subsequent tooth (5), in a manner so as to adjust the distance (D).
Method according to any one of the claims from 20 to 23, comprising a step of providing a fixing material at said shank (12) and/or at said cavity (7), in a manner so as to fix said selected position.
Method according to any one of the claims from 20 to 24, comprising a step of applying a filling material in at least one recess (8) positioned in said stem element (2) and/or in said head or ball element (4), filling said at least one recess (8) with said filling material, hardening or solidifying said filling material.
Kit comprising a spacer device according to any one of the claims from 1 to 19, comprising a plurality of stem elements (2), each having a specific size and/or a plurality of head or ball elements (4), each having a specific diameter or size.
Stem element (2), suitable to constitute at least a part of a modular spacer device (1), implantable in the human body for the treatment of an infected articular seat, wherein said stem element (2) comprises coupling means (3), wherein said stem element (2) comprises a distal end (2′) and at least an external coupling surface (2″), wherein said distal end (2′) is suitable for being faced, during use, towards a further component of a spacer device and said coupling surface (2″) is suitable to be coupled, during use, to a bone bed, wherein said distal end (2′) comprises a shank (12) connected to said stem element (2) at a flat base (B) of said stem element (2), characterized in that said coupling means (3) comprise at least one tooth (5) having an open annular shape with an opening (C) coaxial with said shank (12) and/or at least one projection (5A) suitable to make a bayonet coupling.
Stem element according to the preceding claim, comprising at least one recess (8) for housing a filling material comprising at least one pharmaceutical or medical substance, wherein said at least one recess (8) is placed in said external coupling surface (2″) and wherein each recess (8) is separated from an adjacent recess (8) by means of continuous and rectilinear sections or ribs (N).
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.