Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090024161 | METHODS AND DEVICES FOR UTILIZING THERMAL ENERGY TO BOND, STAKE AND/OR REMOVE IMPLANTS - A fastener including material meltable at a temperature not likely to produce substantial tissue necrosis of neighboring body tissue, or “bondable material”, is caused to soften or melt by the application of vibratory energy, advantageously including ultrasonic vibratory energy. Vibratory energy is applied using a horn applied to the fastener, and tuned to generate vibratory motion proximate the horn, or at a point distal to the horn, for example at a point along the fastener body, or at the end of the fastener. Melted or softened material of the fastener bonds to a contacting surface, which may be body tissue or another implant. The contacting surface may also include bondable material, softenable or meltable through vibratory energy derived from contact with the fastener. To improve a bond, particularly where dissimilar materials are to be bonded, one or more contacting surfaces is provided with a roughened or porous surface, or a surface including one or more cavities or projections into or onto which softened or melted bondable material may form, bonding once the bondable material has cooled. | 01-22-2009 |
20100211120 | METHODS AND DEVICES FOR UTILIZING BONDABLE MATERIALS - The invention primarily relates to fastening and stabilizing tissues, implants, and/or bondable materials, such as the fastening of a tissue and/or implant to a bondable material, the fastening of an implant to tissue, and/or the fastening of an implant to another implant. This may involve using an energy source to bond and/or mechanically to stabilize a tissue, an implant, a bondable material, and/or other biocompatible material. The invention may also relate to the use of an energy source to remove and/or install an implant and/or bondable material or to facilitate solidification and/or polymerization of bondable material. | 08-19-2010 |
20110295253 | METHODS AND DEVICES FOR TRAUMA WELDING - The present invention provides a method for stabilizing a fractured bone. The method includes positioning an elongate rod in the medullary canal of the fractured bone and forming a passageway through the cortex of the bone. The passageway extends from the exterior surface of the bone to the medullary canal of the bone. The method also includes creating a bonding region on the elongate rod. The bonding region is generally aligned with the passageway of the cortex. Furthermore, the method includes positioning a fastener in the passageway of the cortex and on the bonding region of the elongate rod and thermally bonding the fastener to the bonding region of the elongate rod while the fastener is positioned in the passageway of the cortex. | 12-01-2011 |
20120215233 | SYSTEM FOR SECURING A PORTION OF A BODY - Embodiments may have one or more projections which engage one or more recesses to position the sections of the retainer relative to each other. An applicator assembly may be used to apply energy to the retainer. Energy applied to the retainer may affect bonding of end portions of the projections to bottom portions of recesses in the retainer. The end portions of the projections may function as energy directors which concentrate energy. The applicator assembly may grip the retainer with a predetermined force. While the applicator assembly is gripping the retainer, the applicator assembly may apply energy to the retainer to effect bonding of sections of the retainer together. | 08-23-2012 |
20140018854 | DEVICE AND METHOD FOR SECURING A SUTURE - An improved method and device to secure a suture relative to body tissue. The device includes an outer sleeve with a generally cylindrical outer surface and an opening extending from the leading end to the trailing end adapted to receive at least a portion of the suture therein. The device also includes an inner member configured to be coaxially advanceable within the opening of the outer sleeve. The inner member and outer sleeve are configured to fixedly couple to each other and to trap at least a portion of the suture therebetween after advancement of the inner member within the outer sleeve. The device is also configured to expand from a first maximum dimension transverse to the central longitudinal axis to a second maximum dimension after advancement of the inner member within the outer sleeve. | 01-16-2014 |
20140025110 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR SECURING A SUTURE - An improved method and apparatus to secure a suture relative to body tissue. The apparatus includes an at least in part tubular member that has a longitudinal passage that is configured to permit at least a portion of the suture to be received within and extend through the tubular member. The tubular member is formed of a deformable material to permit deformation from a first configuration to second configuration. The second configuration is effective to secure the suture relative to the body tissue. | 01-23-2014 |
20140025111 | ANCHOR FOR SECURING A SUTURE - An improved anchor to secure a suture relative to body tissue. The anchor including an a generally cylindrical body portion with an opening, that is at least in part threaded, extending from the trailing end toward the leading end, and a suture passage configured for passing at least a portion of the suture therethrough. The anchor also includes a trapping member that is configured to be threadably inserted into the opening to trap at least a portion of the suture between trapping member and the generally cylindrical body portion. | 01-23-2014 |
20140039495 | METHODS OF SECURING A FASTENER - Embodiments may include an attachable fastener, which may include a bondable material that may be secured to the end of an end effector. Vibration may be tuned to occur at a distal end of the fastener. Accordingly, the fastener may be used to generate heat at a distal point of contact. If the contact surface contains bondable material, that material may be softened. If the fastener includes bondable material at the point of contact, that material may also be softened by heat produced by vibration at the contact area. A hard implant or another polymeric material may function as the anvil. | 02-06-2014 |
20140142509 | EXPANDABLE ACCESS SYSTEMS AND METHODS - Embodiments may include an expandable access system having contracted and expanded configurations. The system and methods may include an expandable access device having a helix or wrapped shape. Embodiments may include a cannula, stent, needle, trocar, introducer, fastener, and/or any other devices disclosed herein. Embodiments may also include an expandable trocar positionable in at least a portion of the access device. A sleeve or band may be disposed over at least a portion of the access device and configured to resist radial expansion of the access device. Expansion of the trocar and/or receipt of an object may radially expand the access device between a contracted configuration and an expanded configuration. | 05-22-2014 |
20140194907 | FIXATION SYSTEMS AND METHODS - Embodiments may include fixation devices and methods for securing first and second body tissue portions. Fixation devices may include a base component, an insert component, and a flexible member. The base component may include a passage. The insert component may be positionable within at least a portion of the passage. The elongate member may be configured to be positioned through the first and second body tissue portions. The elongate member may be tensioned and pinched between the base component and insert component to secure the first and second portions. | 07-10-2014 |