Patent · US Expired

Surgical protocol for fixation of osteoporotic bone using inflatable device

US4969888A · kind A · utility

965Cited by
16References
28Claims
0Family size

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateFeb 9, 1989
Grant dateNov 13, 1990
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 9, 2009

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA61F2250/0098
  • WIPO fieldMedical technology
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A method and apparatus for the fixation of 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 osteoporotic 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 osteoporotic 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 osteoporotic bone marrow, following which a checker-shaped inflatable device is inserted into the cavity to further compact the osteoporotic bone marrow in all directions. In the fixation of Colles' fractures and …

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.