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US 5,704,938 AGranted
Implantable bone lengthening apparatus using a drive gear mechanism
AssigneeVolunteers for Medical Engineering
InventorsJohn H. Staehlin, Gary I. Segal, David King, Guy Rubley, Dror Paley
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A bone lengthening mechanism is placed into a bone which is then lengthened by extending the mechanism. The mechanism is extended by effecting a rotational movement in a drive bolt which mates with a threaded portion in a section of the mechanism. The threads convert the rotational movement to a longitudinal force thereby lengthening the bone.
Claims7
A bone lengthening nail assembly comprising:
- a first nail section body;
- a second nail section body which slidably receives said first nail section body;
- a drive bolt located in said second nail section body and extending into said first nail section body;
- a rotating drive mechanism operatively connected to the drive bolt and located in said second nail section body for rotating said drive bolt to move the first nail section body relative to the second section body;
- and
- at least one roller assembly in contact with a surface of a generally longitudinally extending helical spline and a longitudinally translating member for imparting a longitudinal force to said at least one roller assembly and causing said drive bolt to rotate.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.