Resorptive Intramedullary Implant Between Two Bones or Two Bone Fragments

Abstract

The invention relates to a resorptive intramedullary implant between two bones or two bone fragments. The implant includes a single-piece body (1) having a generally elongate shape and having, at each end, areas for anchoring to the bone portions in question, characterized in that one of said areas (A1) has a cylindrical cross-section while the other area (A2) has a flat cross-section.

Claims

1. (canceled)

2. A method for fixing first and second bone parts with respect to each other, the method comprising the steps of: threading a first end of an implant into the first bone part; and fitting first, second and third teeth of a second end of the implant into the second bone part such that the first tooth contacts a first side of the second bone part at a first portion, the second tooth contacts the first side at a second portion of the second bone part, and the third tooth contacts a second side of the second bone part opposite the first side, the first and second portions being spaced apart from one another.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the threading step includes threading a tapered end of the first end into the first bone part, the tapered end tapering in a direction away from the second end.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the fitting step includes elastically deforming the second end.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the elastically deforming step include moving two spreadable arms separated by an opening with respect to each other.

6. The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of preventing overinsertion of the implant into the second bone part.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the preventing step includes contacting an abutment with the second bone part.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein a face of the abutment defines a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the first end.

9. The method of claim 2, wherein a longitudinal axis through the first end is offset from the longitudinal axis of the second end by an angle less than 30 degrees.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of aligning the offset at a position corresponding substantially to an arthrodesis line defined at the intersection of the first and second bone parts.

11. The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of permitting the implant to resorb after implantation.

12. The method of claim 2, wherein the fitting step includes positioning the first and third teeth at the same axial location in the second bone part.

13. The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of contacting opposing flat surfaces of the second end with the second bone part.

14. The method of claim 2, wherein the fitting step includes contacting a first flat surface of the first tooth and a second flat surface of the second tooth with the second bone part, the first and second flat surfaces being coplanar.

15. The method of claim 2, wherein the fitting step includes fitting a non-circular cross-section of the second end with the second bone part.

16. The method of claim 2, wherein the fitting step includes contacting a first flat surface of the first tooth, a second flat surface of the second tooth, and a third flat surface of the third tooth with the second bone part, the first, second, and third flat surfaces defining planes parallel to each other.

17. A method for implanting an intramedullary implant between first and second bone parts, the method comprising the steps of: threading a first end of the implant into the first bone part; and fitting first, second and third teeth of a second end of the implant into the second bone part such that the first tooth contacts a first side of the second bone part at a first portion, the second tooth contacts the first side at a second portion of the second bone part, and the third tooth contacts a second side of the second bone part opposite the first side, the first and second portions being spaced apart from one another, wherein the fitting step includes elastically moving two spreadable arms of the second end with respect to each other.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the two spreadable arms separated by an opening.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of preventing overinsertion of the implant into the second bone part by contacting an abutment with the second bone part.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the fitting step includes contacting a first flat surface of the first tooth and a second flat surface of the second tooth with the second bone part, the first and second flat surfaces being coplanar.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein the fitting step includes contacting a first flat surface of the first tooth, a second flat surface of the second tooth, and a third flat surface of the third tooth with the second bone part, the first, second, and third flat surfaces defining planes parallel to each other.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] The invention is explained in more detail hereinafter with reference to the attached drawings, in which:

[0018] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the implant;

[0019] FIG. 2 is a front view of the implant before insertion into the bone part in question;

[0020] FIG. 3 is a side view corresponding to FIG. 2;

[0021] FIG. 4 is a view like FIG. 2 showing the position of the anchor arms of the flat section after insertion;

[0022] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of another advantageous embodiment of the implant;

[0023] FIGS. 6 and 7 show the installation of the implant into two bone parts.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0024] The implant according to the invention has a one-piece body 1 of elongated shape and having a first proximal zone A1 and a second distal zone A2. The entire implant body is made of a resorptive material whose mechanical properties are determined for the implant to be resorbed in no less than about 6 months. In one embodiment, the implant is composed of lactic acid polymer or copolymer (PLA, PGA . . . ).

[0025] As will be described later in the description, the zones A1 and A2 have anchor formations for the respective bone parts. Taking into account the specific characteristics of the resorptive material and to attain the given object of anchor and stability, the zone A1 is of a cylindrical shape section whereas the other zone A2 is flat.

[0026] The zone A1 has a generally cylindrical outer surface 1a with a limited taper toward its free end. The surface 1a has a helical rib forming a screwthread 1a1.

[0027] The zone A2 is flat and has substantially in its center, an opening 1b adapted to enable elastic deformation of the zone A2. More particularly, the opening 1b defines at least two anchor arms 1c and 1d, each having at least one outwardly projecting tooth 1c1, 1d1.

[0028] Advantageously, between the two zones A1 and A2 the body 1 has a central zone C for transition adapted to resist shear and flexion forces that can occur at the end of a bone. By way of nonlimiting example, this median zone C can have a length of about 3.5 mm and a thickness of about 2 mm, for an overall implant length comprised between about 15 and 25 mm and a diameter of about 2 or 3 mm at the zone A1.

[0029] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the two zones A1 and A2 are coaxial.

[0030] To solve the problem of adaptation to the shape of the implantation site, the anchor zones A1 and A2 can be offset at an angle adapted to the geometry of the bone site. This angle is comprised between about 1 and 30 and, advantageously, on the order of 10 when the implant is for foot arthrodesis (FIG. 5).

[0031] In this embodiment in which the two anchor zones are angularly offset, the bend is located so as to correspond substantially to the arthrodesis line of the bone parts being fused.

[0032] FIGS. 6 and 7 schematically show the positioning of the implant according to the invention between two bone parts O1 and O2. After suitable holes have been made in the bone by a rasp-type tool, the operator screws the thread 1a into the bone part O1 substantially up to the median zone C that serves as abutment preventing the implant from sinking too deeply into the bone (FIG. 6). The operator then fits the second bone part O2 back onto the anchor arms 1d and 1c of the zone A2, the anchor arms then spread and tighten by elasticity (FIG. 7).

[0033] The operative technique can be the following: [0034] Drilling of the two holes with a conventional drill; [0035] Preparation of the holes with a rasp for the flat side and a bone tap to form the inner screw thread on the cylindrical side; [0036] Use of a screwdriver with a gripper end; [0037] Screwing in the cylindrical side P1 [A1] for an arthrodesis IPP of the foot; [0038] Fitting of the bone back onto the flat side [A2] of the implant.

[0039] The advantages are readily apparent from the description; in particular, it is to be emphasized and understood that the combination of the two anchor zones A1 and A2 of cylindrical and a flat shape, respectively, significantly enhances anchor and stability of the implant adapted to the geometry of the bone site and to the material properties, namely, a resorptive material.