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US 5,456,722 AGranted
Load bearing polymeric cable
AssigneeSmith & Nephew Richards Inc.
InventorsWilliam D. McLeod, James J. Cassidy
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A surgical cable for use in the repair of fractures or fusions of small bones and to assist in the repair of torn ligaments and tendons. The surgical cable has unique characteristics of high tensile strength, flexibility and inelasticity or stiffness.
Claims21
A method for the fusion of bone segments having outer surfaces, comprising the steps of:
- (a) positioning the bone segments into close approximation with each other;
- (b) providing a surgical cable formed of a plurality of polymeric fibers to force the opposed bone segments toward each other, the polymeric cable having two free ends and being of a diameter of between one and three millimeters (1-3 mm) along the entire length thereof including said ends, to define an elongated thin cable with sufficient inherent flexibility for enabling the cable to be wrapped around the bone segments, said cable having fibers with sufficient tensile strength so that the cable is capable of bearing stress loads to allow the fusion of the said opposing bone segments and to be sufficiently inelastic so as to maintain continuous pressure on the bone segments;
- b) wrapping the cable around the bone segments;
- c) applying a compressive force to the adjacent bone segments;
- (d) securing the cable in place relative to the bone segments by joining the cable ends together;
- and
- e) minimizing stress concentration at the bone segment outer surfaces by closely conforming the cable to the outer surfaces of the bone segments.
4 more elements
A method for the fusion of vertebrae of a spinal column, comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a surgical cable formed of a plurality of polymeric fibers to force the vertebrae toward each other, the polymeric cable having two free ends and being of a diameter of between one and three millimeters (-3 mm) along the entire length thereof including said ends to define an elongated thin cable with sufficient inherent flexibility for enabling the cable to be wrapped around the vertebrae fragments, said cable having fibers with sufficient tensile strength, so that the cable is capable of bearing sufficient stress loads to allow the fusion of adjacent vertebrae;
- and
- b) wrapping the cable around the vertebrae;
- c) applying a compressive force to the adjacent vertebrae;
- d) securing the cable in place relative to the vertebrae by joining the cable ends together;
- and
- (e) minimizing stress concentration by closely conforming the cable to the outer surface vertebrae.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.