Bone transport and lengthening system
AssigneeThe Cleveland Clinic Foundation
InventorsGeorge F. Muschler, Helmuth Kotschi
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A traction cable device is disclosed for bone lengthening and for bone segment transport. The apparatus features a flexible cable contained within a flexible sheath. Bone transport continues after osteotomy and until the bone segment contacts the proximal femur. The in vivo force exerted by the cable can be measured as well as translation of the cable relative to its sheath.
Claims37
A surgically implantable cable apparatus for in vivo bone transport of a first bone segment that is spaced from a second bone segment comprising:
- a) a flexible cable having a first end portion with means for attaching the cable to the first bone segment to which force is to be applied;
- b) an implantable prosthetic flexible, non-compressible sheath with a bore for accepting the cable, and through which a counter-compression force can be transmitted to the bone;
- c) means for attaching the sheath to the second bone segment;
- and
- d) means for applying force to the first bone segment by pulling the cable through the sheath to move the first and second segments relative to each other over a period of time after surgical implantation when the cable is manipulated to move through the sheath.
A surgically implantable cable apparatus for in vivo bone transport of a first bone segment that is spaced from a second bone segment comprising:
- a) a flexible cable having a first end portion with means for attaching the cable to the first bone segment to which force is to be applied;
- b) an implantable prosthetic flexible, non-compressible sheath with a bore for accepting the cable and through which a counter-compression force can be transmitted to the bone;
- c) means for attaching the sheath to the second bone segment;
- d) Wherein force can be applied to the first bone segment by pulling the cable through the sheath to move the first and second segments relative to each other when the cable is manipulated to move through the sheath;
- and
- e) means for measuring the force applied by the apparatus.
A surgically implantable cable apparatus for in vivo bone transport of a first bone segment that is spaced from a second bone segment comprising:
- a) a flexible cable having a first end portion with means for attaching the cable to the first bone segment to which force is to be applied;
- b) an implantable prosthetic flexible, non-compressible sheath with a bore for accepting the cable, and through which a counter-compression force can be transmitted to the bone;
- c) means for attaching the sheath to the second bone segment;
- d) wherein force can be applied to the first bone segment by pulling the cable through the sheath to move the first and second segments relative to each other when the cable is manipulated to move through the sheath;
- and
- e) means for measuring the translation of the cable within the sheath.
A surgically implantable cable apparatus for in vivo bone transport of a first bone segment that is spaced from a second bone segment comprising:
- a) a flexible cable having a first end portion with means for attaching the cable to the first bone segment to which force is to be applied;
- b) an implantable prosthetic flexible, non-compressible sheath with a bore for accepting the cable, and through which a counter-compression force can be transmitted to the bone;
- c) means for attaching the sheath to the second bone segment;
- d) means for applying force to the first bone segment by pulling the cable through the sheath to move the first and second segments relative to each other when the cable is manipulated to move through the sheath;
- and
- e) a device adapted to be surgically implanted and affixed to the patient's bone, the device having portions to accept the sheath and cable.
A surgically implantable cable apparatus for in vivo bone transport of a first bone segment that is spaced from a second bone segment comprising:
- a) a flexible cable having a first end portion with means for attaching the cable to the first bone segment to which force is to be applied;
- b) an implantable prosthetic flexible, non-compressible sheath with a bore for accepting the cable, and through which a counter-compression force can be transmitted to the bone;
- c) means for attaching the sheath to the second bone segment;
- d) means for applying force to the first bone segment by pulling the cable through the sheath to move the first and second segments relative to each other when the cable is manipulated to move through the sheath;
- and
- e) means at its end portions for affixing the device to the patient's bone tissue.
A surgically implantable cable apparatus for in vivo bone transport of a first bone segment that is spaced from a second bone segment comprising:
- a) a flexible cable having a first end portion with means for attaching the cable to a first bone segment to which traction is to be applied;
- b) an implantable prosthetic flexible, sheath with a bore for accepting the cable, and through which a counter-compression force can be transmitted to the bone;
- c) means for attaching the sheath to the second bone segment;
- and
- d) means for applying force to the first bone segment by pulling the cable through the sheath to gradually, incrementally move the first and second bone segments away from each other over a period of time after surgery when the cable is pulled through the sheath along a path that is generally aligned with the intramedullary canal of the patient's bone.
A surgically implantable apparatus for in vivo bone transport of a first bone segment that is spaced from a second bone segment comprising:
- a) a flexible cable having a first end portion with means for attaching the cable to a first bone segment to which traction is to be applied:
- b) an implantable prosthetic flexible, sheath with a bore for accepting the cable, and through which a counter-compression force can be transmitted to the bone;
- c) means for attaching the sheath to the second bone segment;
- d) wherein force can be applied to the first bone segment by pulling the cable through the sheath to move the first and second segments away from each other when the cable is pulled through the sheath along a path that is generally aligned with the intramedullary canal of the patient's bone;
- and
- e) means for measuring the translation of the cable within the sheath.
Apparatus for in vivo lengthening the bone of a patient, comprising:
- a) a flexible implant sheath that is surgically implantable and fixed to a patient's bone to be lengthened;
- b) flexible operating cable means connected to and extending from the flexible implant sheath and including a remote end portion that is positioned a distance from the patient's bone for mechanically transmitting tensile force to the bone using a force that is applied to said remote end portion of the cable means;
- c) means for affixing the implant sheath to the bone;
- and
- d) the flexible implant sheath and cable means defining means for incrementally advancing at least a portion of the cable means into the bone over a period of time after the surgical implantation.
A method for lengthening a patient's bone, comprising the steps of:
- a) affixing an implant to the bone;
- b) severing the selected bone with a cut that defines a gap;
- c) affixing the implant to the bone tissue at separate positions on opposite sides of the gap;
- d) gradually moving at least a portion of the implant a selected dimension per unit of time;
- and
- e) wherein in step "d" a flexible force transmitting member extends from the implant to a remote site where force is applied thereto.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.