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US 8,574,308 B2Granted
Systems and methods for installing and removing an expandable polymer
AssigneeSmith & Nephew, Inc.
InventorsMalcolm W R Brown, Horacio Montes de Oca Balderas, Graeme I Howling, James K. Rains, John Rose, Michael Andrew Hall, Robin A. Chivers, Andy Marsh, Mason James Bettenga, Andrew Thompson, Henry B. Faber
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Abstract
The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for installing shape memory polymers relative to orthopedic implants.
Claims20
A method of deforming a shape memory polymer material comprising:
- providing a heating device including multiple heating probes;
- providing a single sleeve component formed of a shape memory polymer material, the single sleeve component including multiple holes;
- inserting the multiple heating probes into the multiple holes located in the single sleeve component;
- and
- delivering heat to the multiple heating probes, wherein the heat from the multiple heating probes causes the shape memory polymer material of the single sleeve component to expand.
2 more elements
A method of deforming a shape memory polymer material comprising:
- providing a heating device including multiple heating probes in-situ disposed within multiple holes located in a single sleeve component, the single sleeve component formed of a shape memory polymer material;
- and
- delivering heat to the multiple heating probes disposed within the multiple holes located in the single sleeve component, wherein the heat from the multiple heating probes causes the shape memory polymer material of the component to expand.
A method of deforming a shape memory polymer material comprising:
- providing a heating device including multiple heating probes in-situ disposed within multiple holes located in a peripheral portion of the component surrounding a central portion of the component, the component formed of a shape memory polymer material;
- delivering heat to the multiple heating probes disposed within the multiple holes located in the peripheral portion of the component, wherein the heat from the multiple heating probes causes the shape memory polymer material of the component to expand;
- and
- wherein the central portion of the component is solid and does not include any of the multiple holes.
1 more element
A method of deforming a shape memory polymer material comprising:
- providing a heating device including multiple heating probes in-situ disposed within multiple holes located in a peripheral portion of the component surrounding a central portion of the component, the component formed of a shape memory polymer material;
- delivering heat to the multiple heating probes disposed within the multiple holes located in the peripheral portion of the component, wherein the heat from the multiple heating probes causes the shape mer material of the component to expand;
- and
- outwardly expanding the component evenly along an entire length of the component upon heating of the shape memory polymer material by the multiple heating probes.
1 more element
A method of deforming a shape memory polymer material comprising:
- providing a heating device including multiple heating probes;
- providing a shape memory polymer material including multiple holes;
- inserting the multiple heating probes into the multiple holes;
- delivering heat to the multiple heating probes, wherein the heat from the multiple heating probes causes the shape memory polymer material to expand;
- providing a single sleeve component formed of the shape memory polymer material, the sleeve component defining the multiple holes that receive the multiple heating probes of the heating device;
- wherein the heat from the multiple heating probes causes the sleeve component to change shape.
3 more elements
A method of deforming a shape memory polymer material comprising:
- providing a heating device including multiple heating probes in-situ disposed with a shape memory polymer material;
- delivering heat to the multiple heating probes, wherein the heat from the multiple heating probes causes the shape memory polymer material to expand;
- and
- providing a single sleeve component formed of the shape memory polymer material, the sleeve component defining multiple holes that receive the multiple heating probes of the heating device;
- and
- wherein the heat from the multiple heating probes causes the sleeve component to change shape.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.