Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
169 words
In a resorbable fixation device for treating torn bodily material in vivo having a tip, a head, and a cylindrically shaped shaft portion lying between said tip and said head, said shaft portion having at least one retention element protruding radially therefrom to facilitate insertion of said shaft portion longitudinally into said bodily material in a forward axial direction extending from said tip to said head and to restrict movement of said shaft portion through said bodily material in a backward axial direction opposite to said forward direction, the improvement comprising that said shaft portion has internal walls defining a longitudinal hollow portion with at least one radial opening extending transverse thereto and rendering said shaft portion radially elastic; said shaft portion being provided with at least one stiffening element arranged along the inner side of said walls and protruding into said hollow portion; and said radial opening being in the form of a longitudinal slit dividing said shaft into two lateral segments connected at least at said tip.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
169 words
In a resorbable fixation device for treating torn bodily material in vivo having a tip, a head, and a cylindrically shaped shaft portion lying between said tip and said head, said shaft portion having at least one retention element protruding radially therefrom to facilitate insertion of said shaft portion longitudinally into said bodily material in a forward axial direction extending from said tip to said head and to restrict movement of said shaft portion through said bodily material in a backward axial direction opposite to said forward direction, the improvement comprising that said shaft portion has internal walls defining a longitudinal hollow portion with at least one radial opening extending transverse thereto and rendering said shaft portion radially elastic; said shaft portion being provided with at least one stiffening element arranged along the inner side of said walls and protruding into said hollow portion; and said radial opening being in the form of a longitudinal slit dividing said shaft into two lateral segments connected at least at said tip.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
Device according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of said stiffening elements is arranged in said axial direction, preferably in a regular pattern.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
Device according to claim 1, wherein said stiffening elements are connecting said two lateral segments.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
Device according to claim 1, wherein said head is also divided by said radial opening in the form of a longitudinal slit allowing lateral movement of said two lateral segments around said tip which connects them.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
12 words
Device according to claim 1, wherein its flexural strength exceeds 60 MPa.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
12 words
Device according to claim 5, wherein its flexural strength exceeds 100 MPa.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
13 words
Device according to claim 1, wherein its modulus of elasticity exceeds 7 MPa.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
13 words
Device according to claim 7, wherein its modulus of elasticity exceeds 10 MPa.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
39 words
Device according to claim 1, wherein it comprises resorbable or degradable polymeric and/or polymeric-ceramic material, having a Young's modulus in the range of 1 to 50 GPa; and a tensile strength in the range of 0.1 to 20.0 GPa.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
Device according to claim 9, wherein said Young's modulus is in the range of 5 to 15 GPa, preferably in the range of 7 to 10 GPa.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
Device according to claim 9, wherein said tensile strength is in the range of 0.5 to 3.0 GPa, preferably in the range of 0.7 to 2.5 GPa.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
Device according to claim 9, wherein at least 90 weight percent of said polymeric material has a molecular weight in the range of 100,000 to 900,000.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
Device according to claim 12, wherein at least 90 weight percent of said polymeric material has a molecular weight in the range of 200,000 to 350,000.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
43 words
Device according to claim 9, wherein said polymeric material comprises highly purified polyhydroxyacids, polyamines, polyaminoacids, copolymers of amino acids and glutamic acid, polyorthoesters, polyanhydrides, polyamides, polydioxanone, polydioxanediones, polyesteramides, polymalic acid, polyesters of diols and oxalic and/or succinic acids, polycaprolactone, copolyoxalates, polycarbonates or poly(glutamic-co-leucine).
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
37 words
Device according to claim 14, wherein said polyhydroxyacids comprise polycaprolactone, poly(L-lactide), poly(D-lactide), poly(L/D-lactide), poly(L/DL-lactide) polyglycolide, copolymers of lactide and glycolide, poly(DL-lactide-co-glycolide), poly(DL-lactide-co-caprolactone), copolymers of glycolide and trimethylene carbonate, poly(glycolide-co-trimethylene carbonate), polyhydroxybutyrate, polyhydroxyvalerate, copolymers of hydroxybutyrate and hydroxyvalerate.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
24 words
Device according to claim 9, wherein the polymeric material has a degradation rate in vivo in the range of 6 weeks to 24 months.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
16 words
Device according to claim 9, wherein the polymeric material has a at least partially oriented structure.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
19 words
Device according to claim 1, wherein said polymeric material has a polydispersity in the range of 1.2 to 100.0.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
19 words
Device according to claim 18, wherein said polymeric material has a polydispersity in the range of 1.5 to 3.0.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
33 words
Device according to claim 1 wherein said head is designed a grip portion for releasable engagement by a hollow introducer, said grip portion being preferably provided with a predetermine breaking or cutting point.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
30 words
Device according to claim 1, wherein orientation of said retention elements in the upper shaft portion adjacent to said head is reversed in the opposite direction adjacent to the tip.