Implant for stabilizing vertebrae or bones
AssigneeBiedermann Technologies GmbH & Co. KG
InventorsLutz Biedermann, Wilfried Matthis, Jürgen Harms
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An implant for use in stabilizing vertebral bodies or bones includes a first end and a second end, a tubular section between the first end and the second end having a longitudinal axis. The tubular section is flexible in such a way that it is expandable in a radial direction when a force acts in an axial direction which reduces the distance between the first end and the second end.
Claims28
An implant assembly for use in stabilizing vertebral bodies or bones, comprising:
- a bushing attachable to a bone or vertebrae, the bushing having a bore;
- an implant comprising:
- a first end;
- a second end;
- a flexible tubular section between the first end and the second end having a longitudinal axis extending from the first end to the second end;
- wherein the tubular section is movable between a first position inside the bore of the bushing wherein the first end and the second end are spaced apart and a second position outside the bore of the bushing wherein the first end and the second end are closer together than in the first position and the tubular section is expanded in a radial direction relative to the first position;
- and
- wherein the bushing or the implant comprises an engagement structure comprising a protruding portion configured to cooperate with the other one of the bushing or the implant to hold a position of the implant relative to the bushing along the longitudinal axis.
An implant assembly for use in stabilizing vertebral bodies or bones, comprising:
- a bushing attachable to a bone or vertebrae, the bushing having a bore;
- an implant comprising:
- a first end and a second end;
- a receiver at the second end including a recess configured to receive a rod;
- a flexible tubular section between the first end and the second end having a longitudinal axis extending from the first end to the second end;
- a head between the flexible tubular section and the receiver, the head connected to the receiver;
- wherein the tubular section is movable between a first position inside the bore of the bushing wherein the first end and the second end are spaced apart and a second position outside the bore of the bushing wherein the first end and the second end are closer together than in the first position and the tubular section is expanded in a radial direction relative to the first position.
A method of attaching an implant assembly to a vertebral body or a bone to stabilize the vertebral body or bone, the implant assembly comprising a bushing attachable to a bone or vertebrae, the bushing having a bore, an implant comprising a first end, a second end, a flexible tubular section between the first end and the second end having a longitudinal axis extending from the first end to the second end, wherein the tubular section is movable between a first position inside the bore of the bushing wherein the first end and the second end are spaced apart and a second position outside the bore of the bushing wherein the first end and the second end are closer together than in the first position and the tubular section is expanded in a radial direction relative to the first position, and wherein the bushing or the implant comprises an engagement structure comprising a protruding portion configured to cooperate with the other one of the bushing or the implant to hold a position of the implant relative to the bushing along the longitudinal axis, the method comprising:
- forming a bore in a bone or vertebrae to an implantation site;
- attaching the bushing in the bore;
- moving the implant through the bushing to the implantation site;
- and
- expanding the implant at the implantation site.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.