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EP0470660A1 Expired / Lapsed EP ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Apparatus for the correction of scoliosis

Assignee: Acromed BV
•
Filing: 1991-07-25
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2011-07-25
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Abstract

Abstract Method for correcting the shape of a spinal column. A rod is attached to the vertebrae in the longitudinal direction of the spinal column, at the rear thereof, across the part which is to be corrected. The rod consists of a material, for instance of an Ti-Ni-alloy, with a shape-memory with a transition temperature, lower than the body-temperature. The rod is bent and possibly twisted, corresponding to the curve and/or torsion of the spinal column at a temperature, under the transition-temperature. The rod has a perpendicular cross-section with a linear size in one direction, at least so large, that above the transition-temperature, the rod wants to assume its original shape with a constant force.

Inventors

  • 👤 Jan Constant Cool
  • 👤 Marcus Maria Sanders
  • 👤 Albert Gerrit Veldhuizen

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction EP
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-22 22:05
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/56; A61B17/58; A61B17/68; A61B17/70; A61B17/7001; A61B17/7002; A61B17/701; A61B17/7056; A61B17/7062; A61B2017/00831; A61B2017/00867; A61F; A61F2/00; A61F2/02; A61F2/30; A61F2002/30001; A61F2002/30003; A61F2002/3006; A61F2002/30092; A61F2210/00; A61F2210/0014; A61F2210/0019

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim 134 words
Method for correcting the shape of a spinal column, whereby a rod is attached to the vertebrae in the longitudinal direction of the spinal column, at the rear thereof, across the part which is to be corrected, which consists of a material with a shape memory, with an appurtaining transition temperature which is lower than the body temperature, which is bent and possibly twisted, corresponding with the curve or, respectively, the torsion of the spinal column, at a temperature which is lower than the transition temperature of the rod, characterized in that the rod has a perpendicular cross- section with a linear size in one direction thereof which is at least so large, that above the transition temperature the force with which the rod wants to assume its original shape is a constant force.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 134 words
Method for correcting the shape of a spinal column, whereby a rod is attached to the vertebrae in the longitudinal direction of the spinal column, at the rear thereof, across the part which is to be corrected, which consists of a material with a shape memory, with an appurtaining transition temperature which is lower than the body temperature, which is bent and possibly twisted, corresponding with the curve or, respectively, the torsion of the spinal column, at a temperature which is lower than the transition temperature of the rod, characterized in that the rod has a perpendicular cross- section with a linear size in one direction thereof which is at least so large, that above the transition temperature the force with which the rod wants to assume its original shape is a constant force.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 53 words
Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the composition and the sizes of the rod and therewith the value of the transition temperature and the size of the force which arises are chosen in such a manner, that they are set to the requirements which are set therefor in a specific case.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 27 words
Method according to claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the rod consists of an alloy of Ti and Ni in the atomic ratio of approximately 1:1.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 24 words
Method according to claims 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the linear size in the cross-section of the rod is about 5 mm.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 70 words
Set consisting of one or more rods with appurtaining attachment elements for the implementation of the method according to claims 1, 2, 3 or 4, of which the rods fit in a translation free and rotation free manner into corresponding grooves running in the longitudinal direction of the attachment elements characterized in that the rods have rectangular cross- sections, with which they fit into rectangular grooves in the attachment elements.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 48 words
Set consisting of one or more rods with appurtaining attachment elements for the implementation of the method according to claims 1, 2, 3 or 4 and if applicable claim 5, characterized in that the attachment elements are equipped with means to fix the attachment of the rod therein.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 20 words
Set according to claim 6, characterized in that a rod is attached in an attachment element with a snap lock.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 25 words
Set according to claim 6, characterized in that the attachment elements are equipped with small covers with which a rod is locked into a groove.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 41 words
Set according to one of the claims 5-8, characterized in that the attachment elements contain arms which extend approximately perpendicularly to the axial direction of the spinal column around the vertebra and are attached to the vertebra at their other end.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 10 words
Rod as referred to in one of the preceding claims.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 11 words
Attachment element, as referred to in one of the preceding claims.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3786806A Cited
US4289123A Cited
EP0140790A2 Cited
FR2624720A1 Cited
EP0330881A1 Cited

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