# US 6,312,467 B1 · Method of restructuring bone > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 6,312,467 B1 - Document ID: US6312467B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 09/146,333 - Filed: 1998-09-02 - Granted: 2001-11-06 - Earliest claimed: 1995-07-18 - Assignees: Iowa State University Research Foundation, Inc. - Inventors: Thomas D. McGee - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US6312467B1 ## CPC - A61F 2/28: Bones - A61F 2/32: for the hip - A61L 27/105: {containing Al2O3} - A61L 27/12: Phosphorus-containing materials, e.g. apatite - A61L 31/026: {Ceramic or ceramic-like structures, e.g. glasses} - A61B 17/72: Intramedullary devices, e.g. pins or nails - A61B 17/80: Cortical plates {, i.e. bone plates; Instruments for holding or positioning cortical plates, or for compressing bones attached to cortical plates} - A61B 17/848: {Kirschner wires, i.e. thin, long nails} - A61B 17/86: Pins or screws {or threaded wires; nuts therefor (A61B17/72 take precedence)} - A61F 2/34: Acetabular cups - A61F 2/3601: {for replacing only the epiphyseal or metaphyseal parts of the femur, e.g. endoprosthetic femoral heads or necks directly fixed to the natural femur by internal fixation devices (non-prosthetic internal fixation devices for the femoral head or neck A61B17/74)} - A61F 2002/2825: {Femur} - A61F 2002/2835: {Bone graft implants for filling a bony defect or an endoprosthesis cavity, e.g. by synthetic material or biological material} - A61F 2002/30235: {tubular, e.g. sleeves} - A61F 2002/30662: {with rotation-limiting means} - A61F 2002/30828: {parallel} - A61F 2002/3233: {having anti-luxation means for preventing complete dislocation of the femoral head from the acetabular cup} - A61F 2002/3241: {having a ring, e.g. for locking the femoral head into the acetabular cup} - A61F 2230/0069: cylindrical - A61F 2310/00011: Metals or alloys - A61F 2310/00209: Corundum or Sapphire - A61F 2310/00293: containing a phosphorus-containing compound, e.g. apatite - A61L 2430/02: for reconstruction of bones; weight-bearing implants - A61L 2430/24: for joint reconstruction - A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C) - A61L: METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES (preservation of bodies or disinfecting characterised by the agents employed A01N; preserving, e.g. sterilising, food or foodstuffs A23; preparations for medical, dental or toiletry purposes A61K) - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract A method of producing reconstructed bone. The method includes providing an implant structure having a calcium phosphate component, and stabilizing the implant adjacent the healthy bone until tissue can recover, bond to the implant and support the normal required loading. The implant structure provides morphological continuity and anatomical contact between the implant body and the adjacent healthy bone. The method further includes providing for physiological processes to maintain a healthy junction between the implant and the healthy bone. The method further includes controlling, guiding and directing the bone reconstruction process in surgical situations where healthy recovery would not otherwise occur. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A permanent joint replacement device for articulably connecting a first and a second bone, comprising: a sapphire ball; a first sapphire ring contacting said sapphire ball and permitting relative movement of said sapphire ball therewithin; a first retainer for holding said first sapphire ring; a first osteoceramic body attached to said first retainer and having a first bone contact surface thereon; a second sapphire ring contacting said sapphire ball and permitting relative movement of said sapphire ball therewithin; a second retainer for holding said second sapphire ring; and a second osteoceramic body attached to said second retainer and having a second bone contact surface thereon. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The joint replacement device of claim 1, wherein said first retainer comprises a metal cup. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The joint replacement device of claim 1, wherein said first retainer further comprises an adjustable component. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The joint replacement device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and the second bone contact surfaces further comprises a plurality of indentations thereon. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The joint replacement device of claim 4, wherein the plurality of indentations are selected from the group consisting of grooves, holes, and notches. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The joint replacement device of claim 4, wherein the plurality of indentations are tapered. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The joint replacement device of claim 6, wherein the plurality of indentations are outwardly tapered so that they are narrowest at an outermost edge. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The joint replacement device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and the second bone contact surfaces further comprises a plurality of projections thereon. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The joint replacement device of claim 8, wherein the plurality of projections are tapered. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The joint replacement device of claim 9, wherein the plurality of projections are inwardly tapered so that they are widest at an outermost edge. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The joint replacement device of claim 1, wherein said second retainer comprises a metal post. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The joint replacement device of claim 1, wherein said second retainer further comprises an adjustable component. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The joint replacement device of claim 1, further comprising means for attaching said first osteoceramic body to the first bone. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The joint replacement device of claim 13, wherein said means are screws. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The joint replacement device of claim 1, wherein said second osteoceramic body further comprises an intramedullary extension adapted to fit within a medullary cavity of the second bone. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The joint replacement device of claim 1, further comprising means for attaching said second osteoceramic body to the second bone. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The joint replacement device of claim 16, wherein said means are screws. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The joint replacement device of claim 1, further comprising a bolt extending through said sapphire ball. ### Claim 19 A permanent bone replacement device for connecting to a portion of damaged bone, comprising: an osteoceramic material formed into a hollow cylinder having an outer surface, a first end and a second end; a plurality of notches in at least one of the first and the second ends; and a plurality of web-like projections on the outer surface. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The bone replacement device of claim 19 wherein the osteoceramic material has a plurality of perforations. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The bone replacement device of claim 20, wherein at least some of the plurality of perforations have a diameter of at least 200 microns. ### Claim 22 (depends on 19) The bone replacement device of claim 19, further comprising means for stabilizing said osteoceramic material relative to the damaged bone. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The bone replacement device of claim 22, wherein said means for stabilizing said osteoceramic material comprises a plate and screws, wherein said plate is attached to said osteoceramic material, and said screws connect said plate to the damaged bone. ### Claim 24 (depends on 19) The bone replacement device of claim 19, wherein said osteoceramic material comprises at least 25 percent by volume of a calcium-phosphate component. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The bone replacement device of claim 24, wherein said osteoceramic material comprises about 50 percent by volume of the calcium-phosphate component. ### Claim 26 (depends on 24) The bone replacement device of claim 24, wherein the calcium-phosphate component has a calcium to phosphate ratio within the range of about 1.5 to 1.67. ### Claim 27 (depends on 24) The bone replacement device of claim 24, wherein the calcium-phosphate component is selected from the group consisting of tricalcium phosphate, hydroxyapatite, oxyapatite, and fluorapatite. ### Claim 28 A permanent bone replacement device for connecting to a portion of damaged bone, comprising: an osteoceramic material formed into a hollow cylinder having an outer surface, a first end and a second end; a plurality of notches in at least one of the first and the second ends; and wherein said plurality of notches are tapered. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) The bone replacement device of claim 28, wherein said plurality of notches are outwardly tapered so that they are narrowest at an outermost edge of said cylinder. ### Claim 30 A permanent bone replacement device for connecting to a portion of damaged bone, comprising: an osteoceramic material formed into a hollow cylinder having an outer surface, a first end and a second end; a plurality of notches in at least one of the first and the second ends; and a plurality of longitudinal grooves in the outer surface. ### Claim 31 (depends on 30) The bone replacement device of claim 30, wherein said plurality of longitudinal grooves extend substantially along an entire length of the cylinder. ### Claim 32 (depends on 31) The bone replacement device of claim 31, wherein said plurality of longitudinal grooves are tapered. ### Claim 33 (depends on 32) The bone replacement device of claim 32, wherein said plurality of longitudinal grooves are outwardly tapered so that they are narrowest at an outermost portion of the outer surface. ### Claim 34 (depends on 30) The bone replacement device of claim 30, wherein said plurality of notches are radially aligned with said plurality of longitudinal grooves to form a plurality of notched grooves in the outer surface. ### Claim 35 (depends on 30) The bone replacement device of claim 30, further comprising a plurality of perforations located in said plurality of longitudinal grooves. ### Claim 36 A permanent bone replacement device for connecting first and second portions of damaged bone, comprising: an osteoceramic tube having an outer surface, a first end and a second end, wherein the osteoceramic comprises about 50 percent by volume of a calcium-phosphate component; and a plurality of notches in the first and the second ends, wherein said plurality of notches are outwardly tapered so that they are narrowest at an outermost edge of said tube. ### Claim 37 (depends on 36) The bone replacement device of claim 36, further comprising a plurality of longitudinal grooves in the outer surface, and a plurality of perforations in said tube, wherein said plurality of perforations have a diameter of at least 200 microns. ### Claim 38 (depends on 37) The bone replacement device of claim 37, wherein said plurality of perforations are located in said plurality of longitudinal grooves. ### Claim 39 (depends on 37) The bone replacement device of claim 37, wherein said plurality of longitudinal grooves are outwardly tapered so that they are narrowest at an outermost portion of the outer surface of said tube. ### Claim 40 (depends on 37) The bone replacement device of claim 37, wherein said plurality of notches are radically aligned with said plurality of longitudinal grooves to form a plurality of notched grooves in the outer surface.