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EP0178174A2 Expired / Lapsed EP ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Device and method for plugging an intramedullary bone canal

Assignee: Dow Silicones Corp
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Filing: 1985-10-10
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2005-10-10
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Abstract

Abstract 57 This invention relates to a method of plugging the open end of an intramedullary bone canal with an inflatable bone plug which is capable of restricting the flow of bone cement during the insertion of bone cement, particularly during the pressurized injection of such a cement, during an operative procedure involving the fixation of the stem of an artificial joint prosthesis to the end of a bone such as in the fixation of a hip joint prosthesis to the proximal femur. The inflatable bone plug is inflated with a fluid which is capable of escaping from the plug within a relatively short period of time after the bone cement holding the prosthesis in place has hardened to avoid possible weakening of the cortical bone surrounding the inflated plug. This invention also relates to an inflatable bone plug of the above type which is preferably constructed from a silicone elastomer and is pressurized with carbon dioxide gas.

Inventors

  • 👤 Darrel W. Haynes

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction EP
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-23 13:00
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F2/00; A61F2/02; A61F2/30; A61F2/30721; A61F2/30723; A61F2/46; A61F2/4603; A61F2/4614; A61F2/32; A61F2/36; A61F2/3662; A61F2/3676; A61F2002/30001; A61F2002/30003; A61F2002/3006; A61F2002/30069; A61F2002/30316; A61F2002/30535; A61F2002/30581; A61F2002/4625; A61F2002/4627; A61F2002/4631; A61F2/4657; A61F2002/4662; A61F2002/467

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim 196 words
An inflatable bone plug 10 for plugging an open-ended intramedulllary canal of a bone to restrict the flow of a bone cement used to fix the stem of an artificial joint prosthesis into the open end of said canal, said plug comprising an expandable container 12 of a biocompatible elastomeric material having an exterior wall 22 configuration which is adapted to be received within said canal and an interior wall enclosing an interior region 21, said container having a first end fitted with a resealable valve 20 means to enable injection of a biocompatible fluid into said interior region through the use of a further cooperating injection means which is sealingly engageable with said valve means and an opposing second end, said second end being the end which is first inserted into the open end of said canal, said container walls having a sufficient strength and thickness to contain pressure resulting from injection of said fluid, said container further containing a means 17 for the controlled release of said fluid to reduce the pressure within said interior region to a minimum within a preselected amount of time after injection of a pressurizing amount of said fluid.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 196 words
An inflatable bone plug 10 for plugging an open-ended intramedulllary canal of a bone to restrict the flow of a bone cement used to fix the stem of an artificial joint prosthesis into the open end of said canal, said plug comprising an expandable container 12 of a biocompatible elastomeric material having an exterior wall 22 configuration which is adapted to be received within said canal and an interior wall enclosing an interior region 21, said container having a first end fitted with a resealable valve 20 means to enable injection of a biocompatible fluid into said interior region through the use of a further cooperating injection means which is sealingly engageable with said valve means and an opposing second end, said second end being the end which is first inserted into the open end of said canal, said container walls having a sufficient strength and thickness to contain pressure resulting from injection of said fluid, said container further containing a means 17 for the controlled release of said fluid to reduce the pressure within said interior region to a minimum within a preselected amount of time after injection of a pressurizing amount of said fluid.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 59 words
The inflatable bone plug of claim 1 wherein said container has a generally cylindrical shape which is constructed to expand within the canal in such a manner that, after injection of said pressurizing amount of fluid, the length of the pressurized container running parallel to the central long axis of the canal is at least 2 times its length.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 46 words
The inflatable bone plug of claim 1 wherein the means for controllably releasing the pressure within said interior region comprises a container wherein at least a portion thereof is manufactured from a material through which the fluid injected is capable of permeating in a controlled manner.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 44 words
The inflatable bone plug as claimed in claim 3 wherein at least a portion of the container is manufactured from a silicone elastomer and the fluid intended to be injected therein is selected from the group consisting of carbon dioxide gas and helium gas.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 26 words
The inflatable bone plug as claimed in claim 4 wherein the container is manufactured substantially from a polydimethylsiloxane elastomer and the fluid is carbon dioxide gas.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 64 words
The inflatable bone plug as claimed in claim 5 wherein said container has a generally cylindrical shape which is constructed to expand within the canal in such a manner that, after being injected with a pressurizing amount of said fluid, the length of the pressurized plug running parallel to the central long axis of the canal is at least 2 . times its diameter.

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