US RE49,667 E1Granted

Shape changing bone implant and method of use for enhancing healing

OwnerWilliam Casey Foxinventor

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Abstract

Described is a new bone healing method and class of bone fixation implants that change shape once implanted so as to minimize non-healing and speed the bone healing process. The bone fixation method involves shape changing implants that continuously hold the bones in apposition so that a gap does not form. Gaps in time allow non-bony tissue to infiltrate and stop healing. Furthermore, the implants actively compress bone to increase bone mass and strength. Bone cell pressure due to compression and electrical current flow due to bone deformation act to stimulate healing. The new implant designs also provide a scaffolding to conduct bone through the implant and across the healing bone interface. The methods and designs are applicable to but not limited to use for bone screws, plates, staples, rods, cylinders and external fixation devices.

Claims31

Dependent claims

A bone healing method comprising the steps of:

(a) selecting a bone implant operable for pulling together a first bone segment and a second bone segment and operable for compressing the first bone segment and the second bone segment at a bone healing interface;
(b) positioning the bone implant in a position to pull the first bone segment and the second bone segment together and to compress the first bone segment and the second bone segment at the bone healing interface, wherein
(i) during the step of positioning, the bone implant is locked in a first shape,
(ii) during the step of positioning, the bone implant applies no mechanical force to pull the first bone segment and the second bone segment together, and
(iii) during the step of positioning, the bone implant applies no mechanical force to compress the first bone segment and the second bone segment at the bone healing interface;
and
(c) after positioning of the bone implant, mechanically activating the bone implant by unlocking the bone implant and releasing the bone implant from the first shape to a second shape that is different from the first shape, wherein
(i) the mechanically activated bone implant pulls together the first segment and the second bone segment,
(ii) the mechanically activated bone implant compresses the first bone segment and the second bone segment at the bone healing interface, and
(iii) the mechanically activated bone implant maintains the first bone segment and the second bone segment at the bone healing interface while the first bone segment and the second bone segment heal.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 17/506,545Filed 20 Oct 2021 · reissue
Priority: 10 Oct 2011
Granted: 26 Sep 2023
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification10 codes

A61B 17/7291
Intramedullary devices, e.g. pins or nails: for small bones, e.g. in the foot, ankle, hand or wrist
A61B 17/0642
Surgical staples, i.e. penetrating the tissue: for bones, e.g. for osteosynthesis or connecting tendon to bone
A61B 17/58
Surgical instruments or methods for treatment of bones or joints; Devices specially adapted therefor: for osteosynthesis, e.g. bone plates, screws…
A61B 17/8004
Cortical plates , i.e. bone plates; Instruments for holding or positioning cortical plates, or for compressing bones attached to cortical plates:…

Family

Application61/545,391Us provisional application · filed 10 Oct 2011
Application14/351,032Reissue · filed 10 Oct 2012
US 10,448,979 B2Reissue · filed 22 Oct 2019
US 2014/0257420 A1Published application
US RE49,667 E1This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.