Magnetic joint implant
AssigneeP Tech, LLC
InventorsPeter M. Bonutti, Justin E. Beyers
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The application is directed to devices and methods where one or more magnetic or magnetizable implants provides therapeutic benefits to a patient. The implant may be useful for expanding the range of motion of joints or dynamically providing different responses to changing conditions in the body where the implant is placed. An electromagnet is placed on or in a bone on one side of a joint, and another electromagnet or magnetically active material is placed on or in a bone on the opposing side of the joint. The electromagnet may be continuously energized to relieve pressure in the joint space, or may be energized in response to forces applied to the joint.
Claims20
A method of retracting tissue comprising:
- positioning a magnetically active implant in a body;
- mechanically affixing the magnetically active implant to soft tissue or an organ in the body;
- magnetically attracting and orienting the magnetically active implant with a magnetically active element located outside the body;
- influencing at least one of a location, shape, or position of the soft tissue or organ in the body to which the magnetically active implant is affixed by movement of the magnetically active element outside of the body.
A method of retracting tissue comprising:
- inserting a cannula through an incision to create a passage from outside a body to inside the body;
- passing a magnetically active implant through the cannula and into the body;
- mechanically affixing the magnetically active implant to soft tissue or an organ in the body;
- positioning the magnetically active implant with a magnetically active element located outside the body;
- and
- influencing at least one of a location, shape, or position of the soft tissue or organ in the body to which the magnetically active implant is affixed by movement of the magnetically active element outside of the body.
A method of retracting tissue in an abdomen of a body, comprising:
- inserting a cannula through an incision to create a passage from outside the body to inside the abdomen;
- passing, through the cannula and into the abdomen, a magnetically active implant and a clip;
- mechanically affixing the magnetically active implant to soft tissue or an organ in the body using the clip;
- positioning the magnetically active implant by magnetically attracting the implant with a magnetically active element located outside the abdomen of the body;
- moving the magnetically active element with an arm controlled mechanically, electromechanically, by a computer, or by a combination thereof to influence at least one of a location, shape, or position of the soft tissue or organ to which the magnetically active implant is affixed.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.