US 7,753,915 B1Granted

Bi-directional bone length adjustment system

OwnerAugust Eksler, Luiza Blyakher +1inventors

InventorsAugust Eksler, Luiza Blyakher, Vladimir Krakhman

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Abstract

Bone length adjustment method and system includes a two-part telescopic device connected to bone parts whose length between the connection points is to be adjusted, with each part of the telescopic device being secured to the bone part, and a rod with an embedded permanent magnet which is in threaded engagement at one or both of its ends with one or both of the parts of the telescopic device. The permanent magnet in the rod is excited by an external solenoid arrangement to cause a radial force to develop at the rod thereby causing it to rotate. Rotation of the rod is converted via the threads at one or both of its ends to axial motion or movement of the telescopic parts relative to each other and thereby causes an increase or decrease in the bone length depending on the direction of axial movement between the telescopic parts.

Claims25

Dependent claims

An arrangement for adjusting a length or distance between bone parts when coupled to the bone parts, comprising:

a telescoping device comprising:
a first part adapted to be coupled to a first bone part and including a first cavity,
a second part adapted to be coupled to a second bone part and including a second cavity, said first and second parts of said telescoping device being axially movable relative to one another, said first cavity facing said second part, said second part being situated at least partially in said first cavity and partly slidable therein,
a rod arranged in said first and second cavities defined by said first and second parts of said telescoping device, respectively, and having a first end portion movable relative to said first part of said telescoping device and a second end portion movable relative to said second part of said telescoping device, and
at least one magnet arranged in connection with said rod,
said rod being rotationally coupled to an interior of both of said first and second parts of said telescoping device such that rotation of said rod is translated into axial movement of said first part and second part of said telescoping device;
and
a magnetic field generating mechanism that causes rotation of said at least one magnet to thereby cause rotation of said rod and axial movement of at least one of said first and second parts of said telescoping device,
said magnetic field generating mechanism comprising a frame and a solenoid arrangement arranged outside of said telescoping device and arranged to generate a dynamic magnetic field around an operative region to cause rotation of said at least one magnet when situated in said operative region,
said solenoid arrangement comprising a plurality of pairs of solenoids housed in said frame,
said solenoids being arranged in a common plane and each of said pairs of solenoids having a common axis,
said frame being arranged to position a portion of the body having said telescoping device such that said at least one magnet is aligned with and between said pairs of solenoids.

9 more elements

A method for adjusting a length of a bone or distance between bone parts, comprising:

connecting a first part of a telescoping device to a first bone, the first part including a first cavity;
connecting a second part of the telescoping device to a second bone part, the first and second parts being axially movable relative to one another to thereby cause a change in the relative position of the first and second bone parts, the second part including a second cavity;
arranging a rotatable rod in the first and second cavities defined by the first and second parts;
connecting the rod to an interior of both the first and second parts such that rotation of the rod is translated into axial movement of at least one of the first and second parts relative to one another;
connecting at least one magnet to the rod;
generating a magnetic field around the at least one magnet, via a magnetic field generating mechanism, to cause rotation of the at least one magnet to thereby cause rotation of the rod and axial movement of at least one of the first and second parts;
and
controlling the generation of the magnetic field to provide controlled adjustment of the axial movement of the at least one of the first and second parts and thus controlled adjustment of the length of the telescoping device,
the magnetic field generating mechanism comprising a frame and a solenoid arrangement arranged outside of the telescoping device and arranged to generate a dynamic magnetic field around an operative region to cause the rotation of the at least one magnet when situated in the operative region,
the solenoid arrangement comprising a plurality of pairs of solenoids housed in the frame,
the solenoids being arranged in a common plane and each of the pairs of solenoids having a common axis,
the frame being arranged to position a portion of the body having the telescoping device such that the at least one magnet is aligned with and between the pairs of solenoids.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 11/818,457Filed 14 Jun 2007
Granted: 13 Jul 2010
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification6 codes

A61B 17/7216
Intramedullary devices, e.g. pins or nails: for bone lengthening or compression
A61B 17/663
Alignment, compression or distraction mechanisms: for jaw bones, e.g. subcutaneous distractors with external access
A61B 17/7016
With means for adjusting the distance between two screws or hooks: electric or electromagnetic means
A61B 17/7291
Intramedullary devices, e.g. pins or nails: for small bones, e.g. in the foot, ankle, hand or wrist