Ball and socket implants for correction of hammer toes and claw toes

#The disclosed devices and methods generally relates to hammer toe and claw toe correction implants and devices.

#A hammer toe or contracted toe is a deformity of the proximal inter-phalangeal joint of the second, third, or fourth toe causing it to be permanently bent and giving it a semblance of a hammer. Initially, the hammer toes are flexible and may be corrected with simple measures but, if left untreated, they get fixed and require surgical intervention for correcting them. People with hammer toe can have corns or calluses on the top of the middle joint of the toe or on the tip of the toe. They can also feel pain in their toes or feet and have difficulty in finding comfortable shoes. A claw toe is a typically a deformity of the metatarsal phalangeal joint of the second, third, fourth, or fifth toe causing unopposed flexion of the proximal inter-phalangeal joint and distal inter-phalangeal joint in the respective toe and giving it a semblance of a claw.

#Various treatment strategies are available for correcting hammer toes and claw toes. First line treatment of hammer toes starts with new shoes that have soft and spacious toe boxes. Some toe exercises may also be prescribed, to stretch and strengthen the muscles. For example, gently stretching the toes manually, using the toes to pick up things off the floor etc. Another line of treatment includes using straps, cushions or non-medicated corn pads to relieve symptoms. Further, a hammer toe or claw toe can be corrected by a surgery if the other treatment options fail. Surgery can involve inserting screws, wires etc. or other similar implants in toes to straighten them.

#Various aspects of the present disclosure will be or become apparent to one with skill in the art by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying exemplary non-limiting embodiments.

#FIG. 1A is a side elevational view, partially in phantom, of a hammertoe implant formed in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;

#FIG. 1B is a perspective exploded view of the hammertoe implant shown in FIG. 1A;

#With reference to the Figures, where like elements have been given like numerical designations to facilitate an understanding of the drawings, the various embodiments of cyclic deposition and etch methods are described. The figures are not drawn to scale.

#The following description is provided as an enabling teaching of a representative set of examples. Many changes can be made to the embodiments described herein while still obtaining beneficial results. Some of the desired benefits discussed below can be obtained by selecting some of the features or steps discussed herein without utilizing other features or steps. Accordingly, many modifications and adaptations, as well as subsets of the features and steps described herein are possible and can even be desirable in certain circumstances. Thus, the following description is provided as illustrative and is not limiting.

#This description of illustrative embodiments is intended to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings, which are to be considered part of the entire written description. In the description of embodiments disclosed herein, any reference to direction or orientation is merely intended for convenience of description and is not intended in any way to limit the scope of the present disclosure. Relative terms such as “lower,” “upper,” “horizontal,” “vertical,”, “above,” “below,” “up,” “down,” “top” and “bottom” as well as derivative thereof (e.g., “horizontally,” “downwardly,” “upwardly,” etc.) should be construed to refer to the orientation as then described or as shown in the drawing under discussion. Terms such as “longitudinal” and “lateral” are to be interpreted relative to one another or relative to an axis of elongation, or an axis or center of rotation, as appropriate. These relative terms are for convenience of description only and do not require that the apparatus be constructed or operated in a particular orientation. Terms such as “attached,” “affixed,” “connected” and “interconnected,” refer to a relationship wherein structures are secured or attached to one another either directly or indirectly through intervening structures, as well as both movable or rigid attachments or relationships, unless expressly described otherwise. The term “operatively connected” is such an attachment, coupling or connection that allows the pertinent structures to operate as intended by virtue of that relationship. The term “adjacent” as used herein to describe the relationship between structures/components includes both direct contact between the respective structures/components referenced and the presence of other intervening structures/components between respective structures/components. When only a single machine is illustrated, the term “machine” shall also be taken to include any collection of machines that individually or jointly execute a set (or multiple sets) of instructions to perform any one or more of the methodologies discussed herein. In the claims, means-plus-function clauses, if used, are intended to cover the structures described, suggested, or rendered obvious by the written description or drawings for performing the recited function, including not only structural equivalents but also equivalent structures. The terms “implant” and “device” are used interchangeably in this disclosure and such use should not limit the scope of the claims appended herewith.