Claims
- 1. A connective tissue distraction device comprising:
a) first transmitting means for transmitting force to a first tissue region, b) second transmitting means for transmitting force to a second tissue region, c) expansion means for exerting force distracting said first transmitting means from said second transmitting means, wherein each of said first transmitting means, said second transmitting means and said expansion means comprises a biodegradable, bioerodible or bioresorbable material; further wherein said expansion means is not integral to at least one of said first transmitting means or said second transmitting means.
- 2. The connective tissue distraction device of claim 1, wherein said first transmitting means comprises a structure for attachment to bone.
- 3. The connective tissue distraction device of claim 2, wherein said structure for attachment to bone comprises at least in part a biodegradable, bioerodible or bioresorbable material.
- 4. The connective tissue distraction device of claim 2, wherein said structure for attachment to bone is a plate.
- 5. The connective tissue distraction device of claim 2, wherein said structure for attachment to bone is attached to bone via at least one screw.
- 6. The connective tissue distraction device of claim 5, wherein said screw is at least in part biodegradable, bioerodible or bioresorbable material.
- 7. The connective tissue distraction device of claim 1, wherein the second transmitting means comprises a structure for attachment to bone.
- 8. The connective tissue distraction device of claim 7, wherein said structure for attachment to bone is at least in part a biodegradable, bioerodible or bioresorbable material.
- 9. The connective tissue distraction device of claim 7, wherein the structure for attachment to bone is a plate.
- 10. The connective tissue distraction device of claim 7, wherein said structure for attachment to bone is attached to bone via at least one screw.
- 11. The connective tissue distraction device of claim 10, wherein said screw is at least in part a biodegradable, bioerodible or bioresorbable material.
- 12. The connective tissue distraction device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first transmitting means, second transmitting means or the expansion means comprise a malleable or heat malleable material
- 13. The connective tissue distraction device of claim 1, wherein said first tissue region comprises connective tissue.
- 14. The connective tissue distraction device of claim 1, wherein said first tissue region comprises bone.
- 15. The connective tissue distraction device of claim 1, wherein said second tissue region comprises connective tissue.
- 16. The connective tissue distraction device of claim 1, wherein said second tissue region comprises bone.
- 17. The connective tissue distraction device of claim 1, wherein the expansion means comprises a screw actuated expansion mechanism.
- 18. The connective tissue distraction device of claim 1, wherein said expansion means comprises at least in part a biodegradable, bioerodible or bioresorbable material.
- 19. The connective tissue distraction device of claim 1, further comprising an activation means.
- 20. The connective tissue distraction device of claim 19, wherein said activation means is directly or indirectly engaged with expansion means.
- 21. The connective tissue distraction device of claim 20, wherein said activation means is reversibly engaged with the expansion means.
- 22. The connective tissue distraction device of claim 1 implanted in a subject.
- 23. The connective tissue distraction device of claim 19 implanted in a subject.
- 24. The connective tissue distraction device of claim 23, wherein at least a portion of the activation means is external to the subject.
- 25. A method of distracting a first tissue region and a second tissue region, comprising:
implanting the connective tissue distraction device of claim 1 into a subject and distracting the first tissue region and the second tissue region.
- 26. The method of claim 25, wherein said first tissue region and said second tissue region are separated.
- 27. The method of claim 26, wherein the first tissue region and the second tissue region are separated by an osteotomy.
- 28. The method of claim 27, wherein said osteotomy is intermediate the first and second tissue regions.
- 29. The method of claim 25, wherein the first transmitting means is attached to the first tissue region and the second transmitting means is attached to the second tissue region.
- 30. The method of claim 25, wherein the expansion means are activated by the activation means.
- 31. The method of claim 25, wherein the expansion means are removed from the body of the subject.
- 32. The method of claim 25, wherein the expansion means are not removed form the body of the subject.
- 33. The method of claim 25, wherein at least one of the first transmitting means and the second transmitting means are removed from the body of the subject.
- 34. The method of claim 25, wherein both of the first transmitting means and the second transmitting means are removed from the body of the subject.
- 35. The method of claim 25, wherein said activation means are removed from the body of the subject.
- 36. The method of claim 25, wherein at least one of the first transmitting means and said second transmitting means is biodegradable, bioerodible or bioresorbable.
- 37. The method of claim 25, wherein the expansion means is biodegradable, bioerodible or bioresorbable.
- 38. A device for early stabilizing of distracted connective tissue, comprising a stabilizer that comprises in whole or in part a biodegradable, bioerodible or bioresorbable material engaged on or near distracted connective tissue.
- 39. The device of claim 38, wherein said distracted connective tissue comprises bone.
- 40. The device of claim 38, wherein said stabilizer is engaged with at least one transmitting means.
- 41. The device of claim 38, wherein said stabilizer is within a subject.
- 42. A method for early stabilizing of distracted connective tissue comprising:
1. performing distraction on a subject using a device of claim 1; and 2. engaging a stabilizer with at least one of said transmitting means; wherein said stabilizer comprises at least in part a biodegradable, bioerodible or bioresorbable material.
- 43. The method of claim 42, wherein said stabilizer is engaged on or near distracted connective tissue.
- 44. The method of claim 42, wherein said stabilizer is engaged with a tissue region.
- 45. The method of claim 44, wherein said tissue region comprises bone.
- 46. The method of claim 45, wherein said stabilizer is engaged using a structure made at least in part of biodegradable, bioerodible or bioresorbable material.
- 47. The method of claim 42, wherein at least one transmitting means is removed from a subject.
- 48. The method of claim 47, wherein a stabilizer replaces the removed transmitting means.
- 49. The method of claim 47, wherein said stabilizer is engaged with a tissue region.
- 50. The method of claim 49, wherein said tissue region comprises bone.
- 51. The method of claim 47, wherein said stabilizer is engaged using a structure made at least in part of biodegradable, bioerodible or bioresorbable material.
- 52. A method for early stabilizing of distracted connective tissue, comprising:
1. providing biodegradable, bioerodible or bioresorbable materials at or near the site of distraction before a distraction procedure take place, and 2. performing distraction.
- 53. The method of claim 52, wherein said material comprises a macroporous material.
- 54. The method of claim 52, wherein said material is malleable.
- 55. A method for early stabilizing of distracted connective tissue, comprising: providing biodegradable, bioerodible or bioresorbable materials at or near the site of distraction during distraction.
- 56. The method of claim 55, wherein said material comprises a macroporous material.
- 57. The method of claim 55, wherein said material is malleable.
- 58. A method for early stabilizing of distracted connective tissue, comprising: providing biodegradable, bioerodible or bioresorbable materials at or near the site of distraction after distraction has taken place.
- 59. The method of claim 58, wherein said material comprises a macroporous material.
- 60. The method of claim 58, wherein said material is malleable.
Parent Case Info
[0001] This application claims benefit of priority to U.S. provisional patent application No. 60/170,011, filed Dec. 9, 1999 to Cohen et al., which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60170011 |
Dec 1999 |
US |