Apparatus for securing a rod adjacent to a bone
OwnerAlbert E. Sanders, James O. Sanders +1inventors
InventorsAlbert E. Sanders, James O. Sanders, Robert B. More
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and implant for the surgical treatment of scoliosis is disclosed. The method involves the segmental fixation of a rigid rod or rods to the abnormally curved portion of the spine. The rod is constructed of a shape-memory alloy such as nitinol. Prior to implementation, the rod is annealed and contoured into an ideal shape for a given patient. At the time of surgery, the rod is deformed to accommodate the existing curvature of the patient's spine and segmentally fixed thereto using novel bone clamps. The rod is then inductively heated to the transition temperature post-operatively to effect shape recovery and thereby apply corrective forces to the spine.
Claims8
An apparatus for securing a rod adjacent to a bone, comprising:
- a rod housing constructed from shape memory material, said rod housing including a pincer for holding the rod within said rod housing wherein said pincer permits slidable motion of the rod within said rod housing;
- and
- a hook constructed from shape memory material, said hook formed integrally with said rod housing in an orientation transverse to said pincer to facilitate the mounting of said rod housing adjacent to the bone.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.