Adjustable implant
View Patent ↗An adjustable implant ( 10, 60, 70, 80, 90 ) has a base ( 12 ) and a displaceable element ( 16 ) providing opposing tissue contact surfaces ( 14, 18 ). A linkage ( 20, 26 ) is pivotally connected to the displaceable element. A linkage mover ( 38, 40 ), engaged so as to be displaceable along the base, is associated with the linkage ( 20, 26 ) so as to define a displaceable pivot location ( 24, 30 ) for pivotal motion of the linkage relative to the base, in certain preferred embodiments, the base ( 12 ) has an internally threaded track ( 42, 44 ) in which a threaded segment of the linkage mover ( 38, 40 ) is engaged, so that rotation of the threaded segment about its central axis advances the linkage mover along the threaded track, thereby displacing the displaceable pivot locations and adjusting a separation between the first contact surface and at least part of the second contact surface.
1. An adjustable implant for deployment between a first and a second tissue surface, the implant comprising:
(a) a base having a length, said base providing a first contact surface for deployment against the first tissue surface;
(b) a displaceable element providing a second contact surface for deployment against the second tissue surface;
(c) a linkage pivotally connected to said displaceable element; and
(d) a linkage mover engaged with said base so as to be displaceable along at least part of said length of said base, said linkage mover being associated with said linkage so as to define a displaceable pivot location for pivotal motion of said linkage relative to said base,
wherein said base comprises an internally threaded track, and wherein said linkage mover comprises a threaded segment engaged with said internally threaded track such that rotation of said threaded segment about a central axis of said threaded segment advances said linkage mover along said threaded track, thereby displacing said displaceable pivot location such that said linkage adjusts a separation between said first contact surface and at least part of said second contact surface,
wherein said linkage mover further comprises an annular groove circumscribing said central axis, and wherein said linkage comprises a pivot pin engaged in said annular groove so as to at least partially define said displaceable pivot location.
2. The adjustable implant of claim 1 , wherein said base further comprises a slot extending parallel to said length, and wherein said pivot pin is slidingly engaged in said slot.
3. The adjustable implant of claim 1 , wherein said linkage mover further comprises a central non-circular opening, and wherein said base has an opening for insertion of an actuator rod having a key configuration for engaging said non-circular opening so as to allow rotation of said linkage mover so as to adjust said implant.
4. The adjustable implant of claim 1 , wherein said displaceable element is pivotally connected to said base such that displacement of said linkage mover results in a change of angle of said second contact surface relative to said first contact surface.
5. The adjustable implant of claim 1 , wherein said linkage is a first linkage and said linkage mover is a first linkage mover, the adjustable implant further comprising:
(a) a second linkage pivotally connected to said displaceable element; and
(b) a second linkage mover engaged with said base so as to be displaceable along part of said length of said base, said second linkage mover being associated with said second linkage so as to define a displaceable pivot location for pivotal motion of said second linkage relative to said base.
6. The adjustable implant of claim 5 , wherein said internally threaded track is a first internally threaded track extending along only part of said length, and wherein said base further comprises a second internally threaded track extending along a second part of said length, said second linkage mover comprising a threaded segment engaged with said second internally threaded track, said first and second internally threaded tracks having opposite thread directions.
7. The adjustable implant of claim 6 , further comprising an elongated actuator rod rotationally engaged with both said threaded segments of both said first and second linkage movers such that rotation of said elongated actuator rod is effective to displace said displaceable pivot locations of said first and second linkages in opposing directions.
8. The adjustable implant of claim 6 , further comprising:
(a) an actuator rod passing through said threaded segment of said second linkage mover and rotationally engaged with said threaded segment of said first linkage mover; and
(b) an actuator tube deployed around said actuator rod, said actuator tube being rotationally engaged with said threaded segment of said second linkage mover.
9. The adjustable implant of claim 5 , wherein said first and second linkages are deployed such that increasing a spacing between said first and second displaceable pivot locations is effective to increase a spacing between said first and second contact surfaces.
10. The adjustable implant of claim 5 , wherein said base and said displaceable element are formed with interlocking features deployed to limit motion of said displaceable element relative to said base in a direction parallel to said length while allowing a range of spacing between said first and second contact surfaces.
11. An adjustable implant for deployment between a first and a second tissue surface, the implant comprising:
(a) a base having a length, said base providing a first contact surface for deployment against the first tissue surface;
(b) a displaceable element providing a second contact surface for deployment against the second tissue surface;
(c) a first linkage pivotally connected to said displaceable element and pivotally associated with said base at a first displaceable pivot location;
(d) a second linkage pivotally connected to said displaceable element and pivotally associated with said base at a second displaceable pivot location; and
(e) an actuation arrangement associated with said base and operable to act on said first and second linkages so as to move said displaceable pivot locations, thereby adjusting a spacing and/or angle between said first and second contact surfaces, said actuation arrangement being selectively operable to adjust said first displaceable pivot location without moving said second displaceable pivot location.
12. The adjustable implant of claim 11 , wherein said first and second linkages are deployed such that increasing a spacing between said first and second displaceable pivot locations is effective to increase a spacing between said first and second contact surfaces.
13. The adjustable implant of claim 11 , wherein said actuation arrangement is a threaded actuation arrangement comprising:
(a) an actuator rod mechanically associated with said first linkage such that rotation of said actuator rod displaces the first displaceable pivot location; and
(b) an actuator tube deployed around said actuator rod, said actuator tube being mechanically associated with said second linkage such that rotation of said actuator tube displaces the second displaceable pivot location.
14. The adjustable implant of claim 13 , wherein said threaded actuation arrangement is configured such that rotation of said actuator rod and said actuator tube in the same direction results in opposing displacements of said first and second displaceable pivot locations.
15. The adjustable implant of claim 11 , wherein said base and said displaceable element are formed with interlocking features deployed to limit motion of said displaceable element relative to said base in a direction parallel to said length while allowing a range of spacing between said first and second contact surfaces.
16. An adjustable implant for deployment between a first and a second tissue surface, the implant comprising:
(a) a base having a length, said base providing a first contact surface for deployment against the first tissue surface;
(b) a displaceable element providing a second contact surface for deployment against the second tissue surface;
(c) a first linkage having a mechanical interconnection with said displaceable element and a mechanical interconnection with said base, at least one of said mechanical interconnections being a pivotal interconnection, said first linkage extending in a first direction of extension;
(d) a second linkage having a mechanical interconnection with said displaceable element and a mechanical interconnection with said base, at least one of said mechanical interconnections being a pivotal interconnection, said second linkage extending in a second direction of extension; and
(e) an actuation arrangement associated with said base and operable to act on said first and second linkages so as to change an angle of said first and second directions of extension relative to said length of said base, thereby adjusting a spacing and/or angle between said first and second contact surfaces, said actuation arrangement being selectively operable to change said angle of said first direction of extension without changing said angle of said second direction of extension.