# US 8,784,491 B2 · Implant for stabilizing vertebrae or bones > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,784,491 B2 - Document ID: US8784491B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/343,232 - Filed: 2008-12-23 - Published: 2009-08-13 - Granted: 2014-07-22 - Earliest claimed: 2007-12-28 - Assignees: Biedermann Technologies GmbH & Co. KG - Applicants: Lutz Biedermann; Wilfried Matthis; Jürgen Harms - Inventors: Lutz Biedermann; Wilfried Matthis; Jürgen Harms - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8784491B2 ## CPC - A61F 2/44: for the spine, e.g. vertebrae or spinal discs - A61B 17/744: {the longitudinal elements coupled to an intramedullary nail} - A61B 17/8858: {laterally or radially expansible (inflatable A61B17/8855)} - A61B 17/7258: {with laterally expanding parts, e.g. for gripping the bone} - A61B 2017/0042: {with special provisions for gripping} - A61B 2017/00526: {Methods of manufacturing} - A61B 2017/00867: {shape memory effect} - A61B 2090/034: {abutting on parts of the device itself} - A61B 2090/036: {abutting on tissue or skin} - A61F 2002/30579: {with mechanically expandable devices, e.g. fixation devices} - 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) - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## 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. ## Claims ### Claim 1 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. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The implant assembly according to claim 1, wherein the tubular section is formed of strips extending in a direction from the first end to the second end and wherein the strips are connected at their ends, respectively, to the first end and the second end. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The implant assembly according to claim 1, wherein the tubular section comprises longitudinal slots in a wall of the tubular section. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The implant assembly according to claim 1, wherein the tubular section has an open mesh-like structure. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The implant assembly according to claim 1, wherein at least the tubular section is made of a shape memory alloy exhibiting superelasticity. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The implant assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a tension element, wherein actuation of the tension element shortens a length of the tubular section. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The implant assembly according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first end and the second end is tubular. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The implant assembly according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first end or the second end of the implant comprises the engagement structure. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The implant assembly according to claim 1, wherein the bushing comprises the engagement structure. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The implant assembly according to claim 1, wherein the engagement structure comprises threads on the bushing or the implant configured to cooperate with corresponding threads on the other one of the bushing or the implant. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The implant assembly according claim 1, wherein the bushing comprises an outer thread. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The implant assembly according to claim 11, wherein the outer thread is a bone thread configured to attach the bushing to a bone or vertebrae. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The implant assembly according to claim 1, wherein in the first position an outer diameter of the tubular section is less than a diameter of the bore of the bushing, and wherein in the second position the tubular section is expanded in a radial direction to an outer diameter greater than the bore of the bushing. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The implant assembly according to claim 1, wherein the implant further comprises a rigid section attached to the flexible tubular section, wherein the rigid section is located in the bore of the bushing in the second position. ### Claim 15 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. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The implant assembly according to claim 15, wherein the tubular section is formed of strips extending in a direction from the first end to the second end and wherein the strips are connected at their ends, respectively, to the first end and the second end. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The implant assembly according to claim 15, wherein the tubular section comprises longitudinal slots in a wall of the tubular section. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The implant assembly according to claim 15, wherein the tubular section has an open mesh-like structure. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The implant assembly according to claim 15, wherein at least the tubular section is made of a shape memory alloy exhibiting superelasticity. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The implant assembly according to claim 15, wherein the bushing comprises an engagement structure for engagement with the engagement structure of the first end or the second end. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The implant assembly according to claim 20, wherein the engagement structures of the implant and the bushing comprise threads. ### Claim 22 (depends on 15) The implant assembly according to claim 15, wherein the bushing comprises an outer thread. ### Claim 23 (depends on 15) The implant assembly according to claim 15, wherein in the first position an outer diameter of the tubular section is less than a diameter of the bore of the bushing, and wherein in the second position the tubular section is expanded in a radial direction to an outer diameter greater than the bore of the bushing. ### Claim 24 (depends on 15) The implant assembly according to claim 15, wherein the implant further comprises a rigid section attached to the flexible tubular section, wherein the rigid section is located in the bore of the bushing in the second position. ### Claim 25 (depends on 15) The implant assembly according to claim 15, wherein the head is monoaxially connected to the receiver. ### Claim 26 (depends on 15) The implant assembly according to claim 15, wherein the head is polyaxially connected to the receiver. ### Claim 27 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. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) The method according to claim 27, wherein in the first position an outer diameter of the tubular section is less than a diameter of the bore of the bushing, and wherein in the second position the tubular section is expanded in a radial direction to an outer diameter greater than the bore of the bushing.