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US5108404A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Surgical protocol for fixation of bone using inflatable device

Assignee: Medtronic Europe SARL
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Filing: 1990-08-15
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Granted: 1992-04-28
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Expires: 2010-08-15
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Abstract

Abstract A method and apparatus for the fixation of osteoporotic and non-osteoporotic bones and especially vertebral body compression fractures, Colles' fractures and fractures of the proximal humerus. The method of the present invention includes a series of steps including penetrating the bone having the fracture with a guide pin, drilling the bone marrow of the bone to enlarge the cavity to be treated, following which a bone specific inflatable device is inserted in the cavity and inflated. The expansion of the device causes a compacting of the bone marrow against the inner surface of the outer wall of the bone to be treated to further enlarge the cavity. When this occurs, a flowable synthetic bone material or methyl methacrylate cement is directed into the cavity and allowed to set to a hardened condition. Following this, the instruments are removed. In the fixation of vertebral body fractures, an elliptical inflatable device is first used to initiate the compacting of the bone marrow, following which a substantially cylindrical inflatable device is inserted into the cavity to further compact the bone marrow in all directions. In the fixation of Colles' fractures and proximal humerus fractures, a gourd-shaped inflatable device is used to compact the bone marrow.

Inventors

  • 👤 Arie Scholten
  • 👤 Mark A. Reiley

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-23 04:58
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/56; A61B17/58; A61B17/88; A61B17/885; A61B17/8852; A61B17/8855; A61F; A61F2/00; A61F2/02; A61F2/30; A61F2/42; A61F2/4261; A61F2/44; A61F2/441; A61F2/46; A61F2/4601; A61F2/4603; A61F2/4611; A61B10/00; A61B10/02; A61B10/0233; A61B10/025; A61B2010/0258; A61B2017/00535; A61B2017/00539; A61B90/00; A61B90/39; A61F2/28; A61F2/40; A61F2/4003; A61F2/4606; A61F2002/30001; A61F2002/30003; A61F2002/3006; A61F2002/3008; A61F2002/30316; A61F2002/30535; A61F2002/30581; A61F2002/30583; A61F2002/4635; A61F2210/00; A61F2210/0085; A61F2250/00; A61F2250/0058; A61F2250/0096; A61F2250/0098

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 31
Claim 1
Independent Claim 51 words
A method of fixation of a fracture or impending fracture of a bone having bone marrow therein comprising: forming a passage in the bone marrow; compacting the bone marrow to increase the volume of said passage; and filling the passage with a flowable material capable of setting to a hardened condition.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 51 words
A method of fixation of a fracture or impending fracture of a bone having bone marrow therein comprising: forming a passage in the bone marrow; compacting the bone marrow to increase the volume of said passage; and filling the passage with a flowable material capable of setting to a hardened condition.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 28 words
A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said compacting step includes forcing the bone marrow outwardly and against the site of the fracture or impending fracture.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 25 words
A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said compacting step includes forcing the bone marrow outwardly of the central portion of the bone.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 30 words
A method as set forth in claim 3, wherein said forcing step includes directing the bone marrow against an inner surface of the bone within the fracture or impending fracture.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 26 words
A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said compacting step includes inflating an inflatable device in said passage to urge the bone marrow therein.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 24 words
A method as set forth in claim 5, wherein is included the step of inserting the device in the passage before the inflating step.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 37 words
A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein is included the step of inserting an inflatable device in said passage, said increasing step including inflating the device to force the bone marrow outwardly of said passage.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 21 words
A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said forming step includes drilling said bone marrow to form said passage.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 24 words
A method as set forth in claim 8, wherein said drilling step includes guiding a drill through and into the proximate cortical bone marrow.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 21 words
A method as set forth in claim 8, wherein said forming step includes drilling the bone marrow to a predetermined depth.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 32 words
A method as set forth in claim 10, wherein said depth is in the range of approximately 60 to 80% of the maximum oblique dimension of the bone containing the bone marrow.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 22 words
A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the fracture is a fracture of a vertebral body of the human spine.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 19 words
A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said fracture is a Colles' fracture of the distal radius.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 18 words
A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said fracture is a fracture of the proximal humerus.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 26 words
A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said flowable material is selected from the group consisting of liquid synthetic bone and methyl methacrylate cement.
Claim 17
Independent Claim 76 words
A method of fixation of a fracture of a bone containing bone marrow therein comprising: drilling said bone to form a recess therein; inserting an inflatable device in said recess; inflating the device in the recess to increase the volume thereof and to force the bone marrow outwardly of the recess to form a void in the bone; and filling the void in the bone with a flowable material capable of setting to a hardened condition.
Claim 18
Independent Claim 76 words
A method of fixation of a fracture of a bone containing bone marrow therein comprising: drilling said bone to form a recess therein; inserting an inflatable device in said recess; inflating the device in the recess to increase the volume thereof and to force the bone marrow outwardly of the recess to form a void in the bone; and filling the void in the bone with a flowable material capable of setting to a hardened condition.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 22 words
A method as set forth in claim 16, wherein said inflating step includes inflating a chambered bladder device having an elliptical configuration.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 22 words
A method as set forth in claim 16, wherein said inflating step includes inflating a chambered bladder device having generally cylindrical configuration.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 20 words
A method as set forth in claim 16, wherein is included the step of guiding a drill into the bone.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 20 words
A method as set forth in claim 16, wherein said inflating step includes inflating the device with a radio-opaque material.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 20 words
A method as set forth in claim 16, wherein said inflating step includes compacting the bone marrow in the bone.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim 25 words
A method as set forth in claim 16, wherein said inflating step includes forcing the bone marrow outwardly of the central portion of the bone.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim 24 words
A method as set forth in claim 22, wherein said inflating step includes compacting the bone marrow against an inner surface of the bone.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim 27 words
A method as set forth in claim 16, wherein said drilling step includes guiding a drill into the bone, and rotating the drill about its longitudinal axis.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim 21 words
A method as set forth in claim 24, wherein said drilling step includes drilling the bone marrow to a predetermined depth.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim 28 words
A method as set forth in claim 25, wherein said depth is in the range of approximately 60 to 80% of the maximum oblique dimension of the bone.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim 22 words
A method as set forth in claim 16, wherein the fracture is a fracture of a vertebral body of the human spine.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim 19 words
A method as set forth in claim 16, wherein said fracture is a Colles' fracture of the distal radius.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim 18 words
A method as set forth in claim 16, wherein said fracture is a fracture of the proximal humerus.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

FR15864E Cited
US1965653A Cited
GB512456A Cited
US3112743A Cited
US3889665A Cited
US4488549A Cited
US4462394A Cited
US4627434A Cited
US4714478A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1995-04-28 1995-10-28 1996-04-28 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1999-04-28 1999-10-28 2000-04-28 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2003-04-28 2003-10-28 2004-04-28 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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