# US 2022/0168026 A1 · Methods and devices for intracorporeal bonding of implants with thermal energy

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- Number: US 2022/0168026 A1
- Document ID: US20220168026A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 17/670,279
- Filed: 2022-02-11
- Published: 2022-06-02
- Earliest claimed: 2006-02-07
- Assignees: P Tech, LLC
- Applicants: P Tech, LLC
- Inventors: Peter M. Bonutti; Matthew J. Cremens; Justin E. Beyers
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20220168026A1

## CPC

- A61B 17/7233: {with special means of locking the nail to the bone}
- A61B 17/0401: {Suture anchors, buttons or pledgets, i.e. means for attaching sutures to bone, cartilage or soft tissue; Instruments for applying or removing suture anchors (A61B17/0642 takes precedence; fixation devices for tendons or ligaments A61F2/0811)}
- A61B 17/686: {Plugs, i.e. elements forming interface between bone hole and implant or fastener, e.g. screw}
- A61B 17/7032: {Screws or hooks with U-shaped head or back through which longitudinal rods pass}
- A61B 17/7058: {Plates mounted on top of bone anchor heads or shoulders}
- A61B 17/7059: {Cortical plates (A61B17/7007, A61B17/7058 take precedence)}
- A61B 17/7062: {Devices acting on, attached to, or simulating the effect of, vertebral processes, vertebral facets or ribs (rib fixation devices A61B17/8076); Tools for such devices}
- A61B 17/72: Intramedullary devices, e.g. pins or nails
- A61B 17/725: {with locking pins or screws of special form}
- A61B 17/80: Cortical plates {, i.e. bone plates; Instruments for holding or positioning cortical plates, or for compressing bones attached to cortical plates}
- A61B 17/8033: {having indirect contact with screw heads, or having contact with screw heads maintained with the aid of additional components, e.g. nuts, wedges or head covers}
- A61B 17/82: for bone cerclage {(apparatus for manipulating wires or straps A61B17/8861; wires, bands or straps other than cerclage A61B17/842)}
- A61B 17/844: {with expandable anchors or anchors having movable parts}
- A61B 17/866: {Material or manufacture}
- A61B 17/88: {Osteosynthesis instruments;} Methods or means for implanting or extracting internal {or external} fixation devices {(A61B17/7074 takes precedence)}
- A61B 17/8863: {Apparatus for shaping or cutting osteosynthesis equipment by medical personnel}
- A61F 2/064: {with special features to facilitate anastomotic coupling (anastomosis of natural blood vessels A61B17/11)}
- A61F 2/4081: {Glenoid components, e.g. cups}
- A61F 2/4465: {having a circular or kidney shaped cross-section substantially perpendicular to the axis of the spine}
- A61F 2/82: Devices providing patency to, or preventing collapsing of, tubular structures of the body, e.g. stents (stent-grafts for tubular structures of the body other than blood vessels A61F2/04; stent-grafts for blood vessels A61F2/07)
- A61B 17/0644: {penetrating the tissue, deformable to closed position}
- A61B 17/11: for performing anastomosis; Buttons for anastomosis
- A61B 17/1128: {of nerves}
- A61B 17/1146: {of tendons}
- A61B 17/1721: {for applying pins along or parallel to the axis of the femoral neck}
- A61B 17/1742: {for the hip}
- A61B 17/320068: {using mechanical vibrations, e.g. ultrasonic (A61B17/22012 takes precedence; dental tooth drilling devices operated by vibration A61C3/03; removing intra-ocular material using mechanical vibrations A61F9/00745)}
- A61B 17/8038: {the additional component being inserted in the screw head}
- A61B 17/8685: {comprising multiple separate parts}
- A61B 2017/00004: {(bio)absorbable, (bio)resorbable or resorptive}
- A61B 2017/00504: {Tissue welding}
- A61B 2017/00955: {thermoplastic}
- A61B 2017/0409: {Instruments for applying suture anchors}
- A61B 2017/0432: {the separate member staying in the anchor after placement}
- A61B 2017/0437: {the barbs being resilient or spring-like}
- A61B 2017/044: {with a threaded shaft, e.g. screws}
- A61B 2017/045: {snug fit within the anchor}
- A61B 2017/0454: {the anchor being crimped or clamped on the suture}
- A61B 2017/8655: {with special features for locking in the bone}
- A61F 2/30756: {Cartilage endoprostheses (A61F2/3603 takes precedence)}
- A61F 2/32: for the hip
- A61F 2/3603: {implanted without ablation of the whole natural femoral head (endoprosthetic cartilage A61F2/30756)}
- A61F 2/38: for elbows or knees
- A61F 2/3804: {for elbows}
- A61F 2/3859: {Femoral components}
- A61F 2/389: {Tibial components (A61F2/3868 takes precedence)}
- A61F 2/40: for shoulders
- A61F 2/4202: {for ankles}
- A61F 2/4455: {for the fusion of spinal bodies, e.g. intervertebral fusion of adjacent spinal bodies, e.g. fusion cages (intervertebral discs A61F2/442)}
- A61F 2/446: {having a circular or elliptical cross-section substantially parallel to the axis of the spine, e.g. cylinders or frustocones}
- A61F 2/468: {Testing instruments for artificial joints (for testing non-implantable prostheses A61F2/76)}
- A61F 2002/065: {Y-shaped blood vessels}
- A61F 2002/067: {modular}
- A61F 2002/2817: {Bone stimulation by chemical reactions or by osteogenic or biological products for enhancing ossification, e.g. by bone morphogenetic or morphogenic proteins [BMP] or by transforming growth factors [TGF]}
- A61F 2002/30062: {(bio)absorbable, biodegradable, bioerodable, (bio)resorbable, resorptive}
- A61F 2002/30065: {thermoplastic, i.e. softening or fusing when heated, and hardening and becoming rigid again when cooled}
- A61F 2002/30133: {kidney-shaped or bean-shaped}
- A61F 2002/30451: {soldered or brazed or welded}
- A61F 2002/30604: {modular}
- A61F 2002/30677: {Means for introducing or releasing pharmaceutical products, e.g. antibiotics, into the body}
- A61F 2002/3068: {the pharmaceutical product being in a reservoir}
- A61F 2002/30785: {parallel}
- A61F 2002/30787: {inclined obliquely with respect to each other}
- A61F 2002/30878: {with non-sharp protrusions, for instance contacting the bone for anchoring, e.g. keels, pegs, pins, posts, shanks, stems, struts}
- A61F 2002/30892: {parallel}
- A61F 2002/30894: {inclined obliquely with respect to each other}
- A61F 2002/30971: {Laminates, i.e. layered products}
- A61F 2002/30973: {Two joined adjacent layers having complementary interlocking protrusions and recesses}
- A61F 2002/3401: {with radial apertures, e.g. radial bores for receiving fixation screws}
- A61F 2002/3403: {Polar aperture}
- A61F 2002/444: {for replacing the nucleus pulposus}
- A61F 2002/826: {more than one stent being applied sequentially}
- A61F 2002/828: {Means for connecting a plurality of stents allowing flexibility of the whole structure}
- A61F 2210/0004: bioabsorbable
- A61F 2210/0071: thermoplastic
- A61F 2220/0058: soldered or brazed or welded
- A61F 2230/0015: Kidney-shaped, e.g. bean-shaped
- A61F 2250/0068: the pharmaceutical product being in a reservoir
- A61F 2310/00011: Metals or alloys
- A61F 2310/00365: Proteins; Polypeptides; Degradation products thereof
- A61F 2310/00383: Gelatin
- G06F 21/1077: {Recurrent authorisation}
- G06F 2221/2137: Time limited access, e.g. to a computer or data
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)
- 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)
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)

## Abstract

The present invention provides a method for stabilizing a fractured bone. The method includes positioning an elongate rod in the medullary canal of the fractured bone and forming a passageway through the cortex of the bone. The passageway extends from the exterior surface of the bone to the medullary canal of the bone. The method also includes creating a bonding region on the elongate rod. The bonding region is generally aligned with the passageway of the cortex. Furthermore, the method includes positioning a fastener in the passageway of the cortex and on the bonding region of the elongate rod and thermally bonding the fastener to the bonding region of the elongate rod while the fastener is positioned in the passageway of the cortex.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A weldable plate assembly for attachment to a first tissue or implant material comprising:
a plate having a first receptacle formed on a first side of the plate;
an anchor having a longitudinal axis, a distal end and a proximal end, wherein the distal end is configured for insertion into the first tissue or implant material and the proximal end is configured for insertion into the receptacle formed on the plate;
wherein at least one of the anchor or plate can be welded when exposed to an energy source.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The weldable plate assembly of claim 1, wherein said anchor includes a helical thread disposed on the outer surface of the distal end that engages with the first tissue or implant material to assist in insertion or removal of the anchor from the first tissue or implant material when the anchor is rotated.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The weldable plate assembly of claim 2, wherein the plate further comprises a second receptacle formed on an opposing side of the plate, and wherein said second receptacle is configured to receive a welding instrument for emitting the energy source.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The weldable plate assembly of claim 1, wherein at least one of the anchor and plate is made of PEEK.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The weldable plate assembly of claim 1, wherein this proximal end of the anchor is substantially conical.

### Claim 6 (depends on 3)

The weldable plate assembly of claim 3 further comprising a plurality of anchors having distal and proximal ends, and wherein the plate comprises a corresponding plurality of first receptacles formed on the first side of the plate for receiving the proximal ends of the anchors and a corresponding plurality of second receptacles on the opposing side of the plate for receiving the welding instrument.

### Claim 7

A method of stabilizing a bone comprising the steps of:
placing a rod having a longitudinal axis into a cavity of the bone;
inserting a fastener through the bone toward the rod at an angle that does not intersect the longitudinal axis of the rod;
causing the fastener to exert a biasing force against a portion of the rod; and welding the fastener to the rod.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7, wherein at least one of the rod and fastener is formed from PEEK.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7, wherein the biasing force exerted on the rod by the fastener urges the rod toward a wall of the bone cavity.

### Claim 10 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7, wherein the fastener comprises a post that extends at least partially into the bone and contacts the rod, and wherein the post comprises an outwardly extending projection along at least a portion of the length of the post.

### Claim 11 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7, wherein the fastener comprises a plurality of posts extending at least partially into the bond and contacting the rod.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein the fastener further comprises a band associating a first post with a second post.

### Claim 13

A method of stabilizing a bone comprising the steps of:
placing a rod having a longitudinal axis into a cavity of the bone;
inserting a fastener through the bone toward the rod at an angle that does not intersect the longitudinal axis of the rod;
causing the fastener to exert a biasing force against a portion of the rod; and welding the fastener to the bone.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, wherein the biasing force exerted on the rod by the fastener urges the rod toward a wall of the bone cavity.

### Claim 15 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, wherein the fastener comprises a post that extends at least partially into the bone and contacts the rod, and wherein the post comprises an outwardly extending projection along at least a portion of the length of the post.