Bone Implants
The present invention includes implants that include a nickel-titanium alloy. The present invention includes a fusion block implant that includes a nickel-titanium alloy. The present invention includes a wedge, osteotomy implant that includes a nickel-titanium alloy. The present invention includes a subtalar implant that includes a nickel-titanium alloy. The present invention includes methods of bone fusion, and methods of correcting directionality of a bone.
1 . A fusion block implant, said implant comprising a plurality of voids for engaging a fixation device, wherein said implant is configured to fit at an interface of a first bone and a second bone, and further wherein said implant is comprised of nitinol.
2 . The implant of claim 1 , wherein the nitinol is porous.
3 . The implant of claim 1 , wherein the implant is coated with porous nitinol.
4 . The implant of claim 2 , wherein said nitinol has a porosity of from about 20% to about 80%.
5 . The implant of claim 4 , wherein the porosity of said nitinol is about 65%.
6 . An osteotomy implant, said implant being wedge-shaped, wherein said implant is configured to fit between a first cut surface and a second cut surface of a bone in need of directionality correction and said implant is comprised of nitinol.
7 . The implant of claim 6 , wherein the nitinol is porous.
8 . The implant of claim 6 , wherein the implant is coated with porous nitinol.
9 . The implant of claim 7 , wherein said nitinol has a porosity of from about 20% to about 80%.
10 . The implant of claim 9 , wherein the porosity of said nitinol is about 65%.
11 . A fusion implant, wherein said implant is cylindrical and comprised of porous nitinol.
12 . The implant of claim 11 , wherein said implant is a subtalar implant.
13 . The implant of claim 11 , wherein said implant is an implant for an ankle bone.
14 . The implant of claim 11 , wherein said implant is an implant for a small bone in a foot.
15 . The implant of claim 11 , wherein the implant is coated with porous nitinol.
16 . The implant of claim 11 , wherein said nitinol has a porosity of from about 20% to about 80%.
17 . The implant of claim 16 , wherein the porosity of said nitinol is about 65%.
18 . The implant of claim 11 , wherein said implant is non-threaded.
19 . A method for fusing one or more bones, said method comprising:
(a) separating said one or more bones in need of fusing; and
(b) implanting a bone fusion implant comprising porous nitinol between a first surface and a second surface of said one or more bones,
thereby fusing said one or more bones.
20 . The method of claim 19 , further comprising securing said implant to said one or more bones.
21 . The method of claim 20 , wherein said implant is secured to said one or more bones using one or more bone screws.
22 . The method of claim 20 , further comprising allowing bone tissue to grow on and into said implant.
23 . The method of claim 19 , wherein said nitinol has a porosity of from about 20% to about 80%.
24 . The method of claim 23 , wherein said porosity is about 65%.
25 . The method of claim 19 , wherein said fusion implant is a fusion block implant.
26 . The method of claim 19 , wherein said fusion implant is an osteotomy implant.
27 . The method of claim 19 , wherein said fusion implant is cylindrical.
28 . The method of claim 19 , further comprising growing bone and tissue over and into said implant.
29 . A method for correcting the directionality of a bone, said method comprising:
(a) separating said bone; and
(b) placing an implant comprised of porous nitinol between a first surface and a second surface of said bone, said implant being wedge-shaped,
thereby correcting the directionality of said bone.