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US 2026/0174479 A1Published application
Non-invasively adjustable bone prosthesis
AssigneeGranite Medical, LLC
InventorJeffrey David Gordon
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An endoprosthesis intended to replace a resected portion of bone and joint. The endoprosthesis can be non-invasively, manually operated to lengthen a patient's limb both intraoperatively and postoperatively. It includes bone anchoring components for anchoring to a first and second long bone, a joint to replace the function of an orthopedic joint, and a purely mechanical lengthening mechanism which can be located and operated manually by an operator by pressing on skin of a patient without requiring a surgical incision. The axle for joint is the actuating mechanism that lengthens the implant. The endoprosthesis does not need or include any magnets, electric motors, electric current, application of heat or a fluid displacement (hydraulic) system.
Claims20
A non-invasively extendable endoprosthesis incorporating:
- a first feature configured for attachment to a first long bone;
- a second feature configured for attachment to a second, adjacent long bone;
- a joint having at least one rotational degree of freedom which is intended to replace the function of an orthopedic joint;
- and
- a lengthening mechanism which is purely mechanical and manually operates while being located and activated by an operator post-operatively by pressing on skin of the patient, without requiring a surgical incision, a magnet, a hydraulic or pneumatic component, electrical current or application of heat, the lengthening mechanism having
- a threaded shaft rotatably connected to the first feature to lengthen or shorten the first feature when the threaded shaft is rotated;
- a drive ratchet engaged with the threaded shaft and having first teeth on a first side of the drive ratchet;
- a pinion ratchet having teeth which are engageable with the first teeth of the drive ratchet to cause rotation of the drive ratchet when the pinion ratchet is rotated in a first direction to thereby cause rotation of the threaded shaft, the teeth of the pinion ratchet disengagable from the first teeth of the drive ratchet when the pinion ratchet is rotated in a second direction opposite to the first direction;
- and
- a frame affixable to the body and supporting the drive ratchet and the pinion ratchet.
7 more elements
An endoprosthesis extendable in length without cutting skin of the patient, the endoprosthesis comprising:
- a proximal end attachable to an object forming a portion of an elongate bone of the patient;
- a threaded shaft rotatably attached to the proximal end;
- a distal end connected to the threaded shaft, whereby rotation of the threaded shaft causes relative separation of the proximal and distal ends thereby lengthening the elongate bone of the patient;
- a drive ratchet engaged with the threaded shaft and having first teeth on a first side of the drive ratchet;
- a pinion ratchet having teeth which are engageable with the first teeth of the drive ratchet to cause rotation of the drive ratchet when the pinion ratchet is rotated in a first direction to thereby cause rotation of the threaded shaft, the teeth of the pinion ratchet disengagable from the first teeth of the drive ratchet when the pinion ratchet is rotated in a second direction opposite to the first direction, the pinion rachet rotatable by pressing on skin of the patient;
- and
- a frame affixable to the body and supporting the drive ratchet and the pinion ratchet;
- the length of the endoprosthesis increasable by rotating the pinion ratchet by the pressing of the skin, and without a requirement of forming a surgical incision, and without using a magnet, hydraulic or pneumatic component, electrical current, or an application of heat.
5 more elements
An endoprosthesis extendable in length without cutting skin of the patient, the endoprosthesis comprising:
- a proximal end attachable to an object forming a portion of an elongate bone of the patient;
- a threaded shaft rotatably attached to the proximal end;
- a distal end connected to the threaded shaft, whereby rotation of the threaded shaft causes relative separation of the proximal and distal ends thereby lengthening the elongate bone of the patient;
- a drive ratchet engaged with the threaded shaft and limited in radial rotation about the threaded shaft and having first teeth on a first side of the drive ratchet and second teeth on a second side opposite to the first side;
- a pinion ratchet having teeth which are engageable with the first teeth of the drive ratchet to cause rotation of the drive ratchet when the pinion ratchet is rotated in a first direction to thereby cause rotation of the threaded shaft, the teeth of the pinion ratchet disengagable from the first teeth of the drive ratchet by translation of the pinion ratchet relative to the drive ratchet, when the pinion ratchet is rotated in a second direction opposite to the first direction, the pinion rachet rotatable by pressing on skin of the patient;
- an idler ratchet connected to the frame to limit radial rotation of the idler ratchet about the longitudinal axis of the threaded shaft;
- the threaded shaft rotatable within a bore of the idler ratchet;
- teeth of the idler ratchet engageable with the second teeth of the drive ratchet to prevent rotation of the drive ratchet and thereby the threaded shaft when the drive ratchet is not being rotated in the first direction by the pinion ratchet;
- the drive ratchet being translatable relative to the drive pinion along the longitudinal axis of the threaded shaft to enable mutual engagement when the pinion ratchet is rotated in the first direction;
- a frame affixable to the body and supporting the drive ratchet and the pinion ratchet;
- and
- an axle, the axle and the pinion ratchet mutually engaged by a cam on one of the axle and pinion ratchet and a slot on the other of the axle and pinion ratchet, whereby movement of the axle causes relative movement of the cam and slot causing rotation of the pinion ratchet in the first or second direction, an end of the axle pressable by the pressing on skin of the patient;
- the length of the endoprosthesis increasable by pushing the axle thereby rotating the pinion ratchet by the pressing of the skin, and without a requirement of forming a surgical incision, and without using a magnet, hydraulic or pneumatic component, electrical current, or an application of heat.
10 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.