US5879352A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Osteosynthetic longitudinal alignment and/or fixation device
Assignee: Synthes USA LLC
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Filing: 1997-06-17
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Granted: 1999-03-09
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Expires: 2017-06-17
Abstract
Abstract An osteosynthetic alignment or fixation device has a flexible mode making it more easily positioned and a rigid mode in which it provides a desired measure of support in a desired shape to a fractured or deformed bone.
Inventors
- 👤 Silvano Filoso
- 👤 Robert Frigg
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 18:22
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/56; A61B17/58; A61B17/68; A61B17/70; A61B17/7001; A61B17/7002; A61B17/7011; A61B17/7013; A61B17/72; A61B17/7041; A61B17/7233; A61B17/7258; A61B17/7266; A61B17/7283
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 33
Claim 1
Independent Claim
99 words
An osteosynthetic alignment or fixation device comprising an upper end segment, a lower end segment and a plurality of intermediate segments, each of said segments having upper and lower ends and a longitudinal axis, connecting means joining said segments end to end and tightening means for pressing said segments together into a rigid configuration, wherein the contours of the abutting ends of at least two of said segments are preselected for congruence so that when tightened the device is able to assume, at least for said at least two segments, only one single shape independent from the surrounding medium.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
99 words
An osteosynthetic alignment or fixation device comprising an upper end segment, a lower end segment and a plurality of intermediate segments, each of said segments having upper and lower ends and a longitudinal axis, connecting means joining said segments end to end and tightening means for pressing said segments together into a rigid configuration, wherein the contours of the abutting ends of at least two of said segments are preselected for congruence so that when tightened the device is able to assume, at least for said at least two segments, only one single shape independent from the surrounding medium.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The device claimed in claim 1, wherein said shape corresponds to a longitudinal body having a straight central axis.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The device claimed in claim 1 wherein at least two of said segments are cylinders.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
The device claimed in claim 3 wherein at least two of said segments are polyhedrons.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
The device claimed in claim 4 where at least two of said segments are prisms.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
The device claimed in claim 1, wherein at least some of said upper and lower ends of said segments have contacting surfaces substantially orthogonal to said longitudinal axis.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
The device claimed in claim 1, wherein an end portion of at least one segment is provided with a substantially planar contacting surface having an inclination with respect to said longitudinal axis other than orthogonal.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
The device claimed in claim 1, wherein an end of each of said segments is provided with a structured surface matching a structured surface of an abutting segment.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
The device claimed in claim 1, wherein at least two of said segments are at least partially interlinked to each other.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
The device claimed in claim 1, wherein said segments are provided with a longitudinal channel, the channel of each segment communicating with channels of adjacent segments, said connecting means being positioned in said channels.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
The device claimed in claim 10, wherein said segments are each provided with at least two substantially parallel channels.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
14 words
The device claimed in claim 10, wherein said channels have a circular cross section.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
The device claimed in claim 12 wherein the channels have a diameter of 0.5-4.0 mm.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
The device claimed in claim 13 wherein the channels have a diameter of 1 to 3 mm.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
13 words
The device claimed in claim 1 wherein said connecting means is a wire.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
13 words
The device claimed in claim 1 wherein the connecting means is a cable.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
48 words
The device claimed in claim 1, wherein one of said intermediate segments near to said lower end segment is provided with at least two holes, said device further comprising a wire extending through said two holes and forming a loop at the end of said lower end segment.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
41 words
The device claimed in claim 1, wherein the lower end segment is provided with at least two holes, said device further comprising a wire extending through said two holes and forming a loop at the end of said lower end segment.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
21 words
The device claimed in claim 1, wherein all of said segments have a flattened cross section orthogonal to said longitudinal axis.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
14 words
The device claimed in claim 19, wherein the segments have an oval cross section.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
27 words
The device claimed in claim 19, wherein the flattened cross section is helically twisted around said longitudinal axis by 30°-500° over the entire length of the device.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
14 words
The device claimed in claim 21 wherein the device is twisted by 30°to 150°.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
19 words
The device claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of said intermediate segments is made of non-metallic material.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
19 words
The device according to claim 1 wherein at least one of the end segments is made of non-metallic material.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
28 words
The device claimed in claim 1 wherein said segments are provided with channels at their peripheries, one of said segments being provided with outlets for said peripheral channels.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
27 words
The device claimed in claim 1, wherein the longitudinal axis of said lower end segment is inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis of said intermediate segments.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
20 words
The device claimed in claim 1, wherein said lower end segment is provided with substantially longitudinal cut-outs with sharp edges.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
16 words
The device claimed in claim 1, wherein the device is provided with a proximal locking aperture.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
16 words
The device claimed in claim 1, wherein the device is provided with a distal locking aperture.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
72 words
An osteosynthetic longitudinal alignment or fixation device comprising a hollow tube having a wall and a longitudinal axis and partial cuts in said wall transverse to said axis, said cuts being positioned to render said tube flexible and said device further comprising a tightening means for compressing said cuts, at least along a section of the device, into a rigid longitudinal conformation of only one single shape independent from the surrounding medium.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
72 words
An osteosynthetic longitudinal alignment or fixation device comprising a hollow tube having a wall and a longitudinal axis and partial cuts in said wall transverse to said axis, said cuts being positioned to render said tube flexible and said device further comprising a tightening means for compressing said cuts, at least along a section of the device, into a rigid longitudinal conformation of only one single shape independent from the surrounding medium.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
26 words
The device claimed in claim 30 comprising a plurality of groups of cuts, said groups being displaced from one another around the periphery of the tube.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-03-08 | 2002-09-07 | 2003-03-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-03-08 | 2006-09-07 | 2007-03-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-03-08 | 2010-09-07 | 2011-03-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |