Implantable Compensating Sleeve for an Endoprosthesis

Abstract

An implantable compensating sleeve is for application between a longitudinal implant section of a first implant, and a second implant that encompasses the longitudinal implant section of said first implant. The compensating sleeve has a sheath with a sheath body and a passage, running from the proximal to the distal end of the sheath body, for receiving said longitudinal implant section of the first implant. The sheath body is formed from separate planar and/or rod-shaped compensating elements which are arranged in a ring and aligned in the longitudinal direction of the sheath body. A gap runs from the proximal to the distal end between two adjacent compensating elements. Adjacent compensating elements are interconnected by at least one foldable wire such that they can move relative to one another.

Claims

1-11. (canceled)

12. An implantable compensating sleeve configured for installation between an oblong implant section of a first implant and a second implant engaging the oblong implant section of the first implant, the implantable compensating sleeve comprising: a sheath having a sheath body and a lead-through extending continuously from a proximal end of the sheath body to a distal end of the sheath body and configured to receive the oblong implant section of the first implant; wherein the sheath body is formed of separate compensating elements that are arranged in a ring and are aligned in a longitudinal direction of the sheath body; and wherein a continuous gap extends between the compensating elements and wherein the compensating elements are flexibly connected together by least one foldable wire that bridges over the continuous gap.

13. The implantable compensating sleeve according to claim 12, wherein at least one of the compensating elements is rod-shaped and has at least one of a circular, ellipsoidal and semicircular cross-section, particularly passing uniformly from the proximal end to the distal end.

14. The implantable compensating sleeve according to claim 12, wherein at least one of the compensating elements has a polygonal cross-section passing uniformly from the proximal end to the distal end.

15. The implantable compensating sleeve according to claim 12, wherein the foldable wire is aligned so as to cross a longitudinal axis of the sheath body.

16. The implantable compensating sleeve according to claim 12, wherein the foldable wire enwraps the compensating elements, which are arranged radially in the sheath body.

17. The implantable compensating sleeve according to claim 12, wherein the foldable wire has a diameter of 0.2-0.4 mm.

18. The implantable compensating sleeve according to claim 12, wherein the continuous gap has a gap width that is reducible by mechanical folding of the foldable wire.

19. The implantable compensating sleeve according to claim 12, wherein the sheath body is deformable by applying an external application of force on an outside surface of the compensating elements.

20. The implantable compensating sleeve according to claim 12, wherein at least one of the compensating elements is rigid.

21. The implantable compensating sleeve according to claim 12, wherein the compensating elements differ from each other in cross-sectional shape, cross-sectional extent, and cross-sectional course extending in the longitudinal direction.

Description

[0059] The invention is hereafter elucidated by means of example embodiments. The figures show:

[0060] FIG. 1: A side and cross-sectional view of an oblong implant section of a first implant,

[0061] FIG. 2: A side view of an embodiment of a compensating sleeve of this invention,

[0062] FIG. 3: A cross-sectional view of the embodiment in accordance with FIG. 2,

[0063] FIG. 4: A side view of a compensating sleeve in accordance with FIG. 2 slid onto an oblong implant section in accordance with FIG. 1 and

[0064] FIG. 5: A cross-sectional view of a compensating sleeve in accordance with FIG. 2 slid onto an oblong implant section in accordance with FIG. 1.

[0065] FIG. 1 shows both a side view and a cross-sectional view B-B of an oblong implant section 1 of a first implant 2. The first implant 2 shown is a straight bone nail with a groove profile 12 extending in the longitudinal direction. FIG. 1 shows the end region of the bone nail, which was, for instance, laid open surgically after a periprosthetic fracture. As the cross-sectional view B-B shows, the wavy groove profile 12 of the bone nail has broad troughs with short, pointed peaks.

[0066] For a force-fit connection with a second implant with a smooth-walled intake device into which the nail end 1 is to be introduced for an endoprosthetic extension, there is therefore only a very low contact area 13 available for power transmission, since contact can only be established between the wave crests and the wall of the intake device.

[0067] FIGS. 2 and 3 show an embodiment of the compensating sleeve of this invention. FIG. 3 portrays the cross-section A-A in accordance with FIG. 2.

[0068] The compensating sleeve is configured as a sheath with a sheath body 3 and with a lead-through 6 extending from the proximal 4 to the distal end 5 of the sheath body 3 so as to receive the oblong implant section 1 of the first implant 2.

[0069] The sheath body 3 consists of multiple ring-shaped rigid rods as compensating elements 8.1-8.8, which are connected to each other by two foldable wires 9.1 and 9.2 running around the outside of the sheath body, which are firmly attached to the outside of each rod 8.1-8.8. All of the rods 8.1-8.8 have the same length and circular cross-section 10.1-10.8 throughout, which are constant over the entire length of each rod 8.1-8.8. The rods 8.1-8.8 are installed at a distance from each other, so that the gap 7.1-7.8 is formed, with the gap width corresponding to the width of a wave crest of the groove profile 12. The wires 9.1 and 9.2 bridge all gaps 7.1-7.8 and thus also the crests of the groove profile 12.

[0070] The side of the rods 8.1-8.8 facing the lead-through 6 of the sheath body 3 constitutes the inside surface 11 of the sheath body 3.

[0071] FIGS. 4 and 5 show a compensating sleeve that has been pushed onto the end section 2 of a bone nail 1. When the compensating sleeve is pushed on, one rod 8.1-8.8 of the sheath body 3 at a time engages a groove of the groove profile 12. The diameter of the rods 8.1-8.8 essentially corresponds to the depth of the grooves of the groove profile 12 in the oblong implant section 1, so that they essentially fill the groove when they engage with it (FIG. 5). The existing contact area 13 is nearly doubled by the exteriors 14.1-14.8 of the rods 8.1-8.8, whereby the rotational stability with respect to the second implant positioned within the domain of the compensating sleeve is increased, since the second implant not only rests on the wave crests of the groove profile 12 in a force-fit with the end section 2 of the nail but also on the outside surfaces 14.1-14.8 of the rods 8.1-8.8. [0072] 1 oblong implant section [0073] 2 first implant [0074] 3 sheath body [0075] 4 proximal end of the sheath body [0076] 5 distal end of the sheath body [0077] 6 continuous lead-through in the sheath body [0078] 7 a continuous gap from proximal to distal (7.1-7.8) [0079] 8 compensating elements (8.1-8.8) [0080] 9 folding wire (9.1-9.2) [0081] 10 circular cross-sectional shape of a compensating element [0082] 11 inside surface of the sheath body [0083] 12 groove profile in the oblong implant section of the first implant [0084] 13 contact surfaces for the force-fitted connection with the second implant [0085] 14 exterior of a compensating element (14.1-14.8)