Abstract
The invention relates to an implant (1) for the treatment of bone, in particular for covering defects or drill holes or for the reconstruction of bone defects or malformations. This comprises at least one frame structure (2) and at least one adaptation area (3). The edge of the implant (4) is thereby partially, but not continuously, formed by the frame structures (2), which are located outside the adaptation area (3).
Claims
1.-18. (canceled)
19. An implant for the treatment of bone, comprising: at least one frame structure; and at least one adaptation area; wherein the at least one frame structure is arranged outside the adaptation area and partially forms the edge of the implant, wherein the at least one frame structure does not continuously delimit the outer edge, so that at least one region of the outer edge is not delimited by the frame structure.
20. The implant according to claim 19, wherein the implant comprises at least two frame structures, wherein both frame structures are each arranged outside the adaptation area and partially form the edge of the implant, and the at least two frame structures do not continuously delimit the outer edge, so that at least two areas of the outer edge are not delimited by the frame structure.
21. The implant according to claim 19, wherein the adaptation area is continuous and is free of frame structures on the inside.
22. The implant according to claim 19, wherein the frame structures are dimensioned and arranged such that at least half of the outer edge is continuously not delimited by the frame structures.
23. The implant according to claim 19, wherein the adaptation area comprises a lattice structure dimensioned, such that it can be deformed by hand or with hand tools.
24. The implant according to claim 19, wherein the implant comprises a biocompatible material.
25. The implant according to claim 19, wherein the adaptation area comprises connection areas dimensioned to be cut by means of hand tools.
26. The implant according to claim 19, wherein the implant has at least one side length in a range of 10-200 mm.
27. The implant according to claim 19, wherein at least one frame structure is dimensioned and positioned to be attached.
28. The implant according to claim 27, wherein the at least one frame structure has an arc shape.
29. The implant according to claim 27, wherein the implant has, between the two frame structures adapted to the margo supraorbitalis, an intermediate region whose bendability is greater than that of the frame structures.
30. The implant according to claim 19, wherein the implant comprises at least one attachment tab.
31. The implant according to claim 12, wherein the at least one attachment tab is integrally connected to a frame structure.
32. The implant according to one of claims 30, wherein the at least one attachment tab is adapted for attachment to the nasal bone.
33. The implant according to claim 19, wherein the implant is adapted to cover defects or drill holes or to reconstruct bone defects or malformations at the sinus.
34. The implant according to claim 19, wherein the adaptation area is formed in integrally.
35. The implant according to claim 19, wherein the entire implant is formed integrally.
36. The implant according to any claim 19, wherein the adaptation area is plastically deformable.
Description
[0039] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the figures and embodiments, showing:
[0040] FIG. 1: an embodiment of an implant according to the invention,
[0041] FIG. 2: an alternative embodiment of an implant according to the invention,
[0042] FIG. 3: a further alternative embodiment of an implant according to the invention,
[0043] FIG. 4: an enlarged representation of a fitting area,
[0044] FIG. 5: an alternative embodiment of an implant according to the invention.
[0045] FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of an implant 1 according to the invention, which is adapted in shape and size to be implanted in the region of the human frontal sinus. The implant comprises two frame structures 2 and an adaptation area 3. The outer edge of the implant is symbolized by a dashed line 4 and is to be understood here and in general as the outermost boundary of the entire implant before any cutting. The two frame structures 2 partially form the outer edge 4 of the implant. In particular, the frame structures 2 here have an arcuate shape and are adapted in shape and dimension to the human margo supraorbitalis. Further, they comprise screw holes 10 suitable for receiving screws so that the implant 1 can be screwed to a bone. The implant further comprises two attachment tabs 8, each of which is integrally connected to one of the frame structures 2. In the present case, the attachment tabs 8 are connected at the facing ends of the frame structures 2 between the two frame structures and extend in the same plane as the implant at an angle of approximately 85° away from the implant. Thus, the attachment tabs 8 correspond to the position of the nasal bone when the frame structures are attached to the margo supraorbitalis. Further, the attachment tabs include screw holes 10a suitable for screwing the attachment tabs to the nasal bone. Between the two frame structures 2 and attachment tabs is an intermediate region 5a, which has no frame structure. This corresponds in its design to the remaining edge region 5b of the implant and is designed in particular in such a way that it has greater bendability than the frame structure. Thus, the force required to cause plastic deformation of the intermediate region 5a is relatively small and can be applied by hand or hand tools. In the present case, the implant comprises only frame structures adapted to the region of the margo supraorbitalis, which can be attached to the nasal bone via attachment tabs. The remainder 5b of the outer edge 4 is not bounded by frame structures and can therefore be trimmed by the surgeon. This allows, for example, the implant to be adapted to a smaller area of a patient's anatomy. In addition, the adaptation area 3 is plastically deformable, so that further adaptation possibilities exist.
[0046] FIG. 2 shows an alternative embodiment of an implant 1 according to the invention. The embodiment shown here comprises only one frame structure 2. The frame structure partially delimits the outer edge 4, so that a part 5 of the outer edge is formed without a frame structure. The sheetlike adaptation area 3 has essentially the same design as that shown in FIG. 1, and is therefore plastically deformable and has a bendability that permits plastic deformation by hand or with hand tools. The frame structure 2 is adapted here to correspond in shape and dimensions to the Margo Supraorbitalis. The implant has two attachment tabs 8, both of which are integrally connected to the frame structure 2. The attachment tabs are dimensioned and located so that they can be attached to the nasal bone. In particular, the screw holes 10a, which can be used for screwing to the nasal bone, serve this purpose. The frame structure also includes screw holes 10 which serve the same purpose. Here, the frame structure 2 is continuous between the two attachment tabs 8. Therefore, the intermediate area 9 between the attachment tabs is part of the frame structure 2. This is particularly advantageous if the treatment requires support and stabilization in this area and/or the shape and dimensions of the implant are so precisely adapted to the anatomy that further adaptation is unnecessary. Irrespective of this, however, the adaptation area 3 can of course be plastically deformed and/or cut to accommodate a particular anatomy.
[0047] FIG. 3 shows an alternative embodiment of an implant 1 according to the invention, which has two frame structures 2 that partially form the outer edge 4 of the implant. As a result, the implant comprises two further areas 5a, 5b of the outer edge 4 which are not bounded by frame structures. The sheetlike adaptation area 3 is also designed here so that it can be plastically deformed and cut to size. In particular, it is dimensioned and designed, for example by material selection and/or shape, such that plastic deformation and/or cutting can be performed by hand or with hand tools. Suitable hand tools include, in particular, commercially available pliers and cutting instruments. The implant has an approximately square shape with rounded corner regions with a radius, where the frame structures are also arranged. As a result, the present implant comprises a region 11a which has no sharp points or fraying, in particular due to the frame structure. A second region 11b, which in the present example is opposite region 11a, is particularly suitable for being cut to a smaller size by an operator because of the lack of frame structures. Preferably, the cutting is performed on the side facing away from the frame structures. However, it is of course also possible to cut the adaptation area to any shape, in particular also between the two frame structures. This results in a smaller implant with only one frame structure. The flexibility of the cutting makes this implant particularly suitable for use where precise adaptation of the implant prior to surgery is not possible or is difficult and flexibility in use is therefore important. For example, this is the case in the treatment of bones, which typically have a large variation in size and shape between individuals.
[0048] Alternatively, it would of course be conceivable to also cut the implant within the frame structure. The frame structure therefore does not have to be designed in such a way that it cannot be cut to size. In general, however, it is advantageous to arrange the frame structure in such a way that it does not have to be cut to size in the most common applications. In this way, the frame structure forms an area without sharp edges.
[0049] FIG. 4 shows a detailed representation of the sheetlike adaptation area 3 and the geometry of the lattice. The present grid comprises holes 6 and connection areas 7 designed as ribs. The connection areas connect circumferential areas of the holes 6. In the embodiment shown here, each circumferential area of a hole 6 is connected to four connection areas 7. These are evenly distributed along the circumference of the holes, i.e. approximately at 90° intervals. The connection areas are further dimensioned so that they can be cut through with hand tools. Here, the holes have an outer diameter of 3.1 mm. However, it would also be conceivable to form holes with a different outer diameter, in particular an outer diameter in the range from 2 to 5 mm, preferably in a range from 3.0 to 3.22 mm. The wire-like elements forming the ribs as well as the circumferential areas of the holes have a width of 0.6 mm, but could alternatively have a different width in the range 0.1 to 3.0 mm, preferably 0.5 to 0.7 mm. The grid area is approximately 0.5 mm thick, but could also have a different thickness in the range of 0.1 to 2.0 mm, preferably 0.3 to 0.6 mm. Particularly advantageous is the design of the grid from a metal or a (resorbable) plastic. Accordingly, the variant shown here is made of titanium or a titanium alloy. This design allows the sheetlike adaptation area to be cut to a desired size. However, other dimensions and/or materials can of course be used. The geometry of the grid forming the sheetlike adaptation area 3 shown here is particularly advantageous for use in an implant due to the properties described here. However, it is of course also possible to use any other known lattice structure.
[0050] FIG. 5 shows an alternative embodiment of an implant according to the invention. This corresponds essentially to the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, but further comprises two attachment tabs 8. These are similar to the attachment tabs used, for example, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1. However, in the embodiment shown here, the attachment tabs 8 are not connected to a frame structure. Instead, both attachment tabs 8 are directly connected to the edge region 5b of the implant 1 and are therefore located in a region with greater bendability of the implant. This allows the implant 1 to be used particularly advantageously in complicated anatomies because the attachment tabs 8 can be fixed with maximum flexibility. For this purpose, the attachment tabs 8 also have screw holes 10. It would of course be possible to combine the arrangement of the attachment tabs 8 shown in FIGS. 1 and 5. Thus, the variant shown here could also additionally or alternatively comprise further attachment tabs 8 in the area of the frame structures. Likewise, the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 could be provided with further attachment tabs that are not connected to the frame structure.
