METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TREATING BONE FRACTURES, AND/OR FOR FORTIFYING AND/OR AUGMENTING BONE, INCLUDING THE PROVISION AND USE OF COMPOSITE IMPLANTS

• Main Authors: D'Agostino, Jeffrey A, McRury, Ian D, Lane, Joseph P, Seil, Nikole, Carter, Andrew J, Watterson, Arthur, Whitehouse, Robert S, Marchetti, Samantha
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 13.06.2019
• Subjects: BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS, ORSURGICAL ARTICLES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF,TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, E.G. STENTS; DIAGNOSIS; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION, OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; FIRST-AID KITS; FOMENTATION; HUMAN NECESSITIES; HYGIENE; IDENTIFICATION; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS, OR SURGICALARTICLES; MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS INGENERAL; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL, OR TOILET PURPOSES; PROSTHESES; SURGERY; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS

A composite implant comprising an injectable matrix material which is flowable and sellable, and at least one reinforcing element for integration with the injectable matrix material, the at least one reinforcing element adding sufficient strength to the injectable matrix material such that when the composite implant is disposed in a cavity in a bone, the composite implant supports the bone. A method for treating a bone, the method comprising: selecting at least one reinforcing element to be combined with an injectable matrix material so as to together form a composite implant capable of supporting the bone; positioning the at least one reinforcing element in a cavity in the bone; flowing the injectable matrix material into the cavity in the bone so that the injectable matrix material interfaces with the at least one reinforcing element; and transforming the injectable matrix material from a flowable state to a non-flowable state so as to establish a static structure for the composite implant, such that the composite implant supports the adjacent bone.