Granted Patent B2

US 12,648,853 · App. 17/210,413 · Granted Jun 9, 2026

Inventors: Jessee Hunt (Plano, TX); Dave Matusz (New York, NY)

Assignee: 4WEB, LLC

A61F2/28A61F2/2803A61F2/30A61F2/30907A61F2/30942A61F2/32A61F2/38A61F2/4202A61F2/4225A61F2/44A61F2/4455A61F2/4465A61F2/447A61F2/4611A61F2002/2835A61F2002/3014A61F2002/30143A61F2002/30153A61F2002/30156A61F2002/30158A61F2002/30179A61F2002/30273A61F2002/30275A61F2002/3028A61F2002/30281A61F2002/30593A61F2002/30599A61F2002/30841A61F2002/30891A61F2002/30906A61F2002/30909A61F2002/30914A61F2002/3092A61F2002/3093A61F2002/30943A61F2002/30952A61F2002/30953A61F2002/30957A61F2002/30962A61F2002/30968A61F2002/3097A61F2002/30985A61F2310/00017A61F2310/00023A61F2310/00029A61F2310/00047A61F2310/00179A61F2310/00598A61F2310/00796A61F2310/00958A61F2310/0097A61F2310/00976

Abstract

Claims (42)

1 . An implant apparatus, comprising:

an implant configured to interface with bone tissue in a sacroiliac joint of a subject, and wherein the implant is configured to be placed in a channel formed in a sacrum bone of the subject;

an opening formed longitudinally through the implant; and

a single body fastener configured to be inserted through the opening of the implant and into the bone tissue beyond a distal end of the implant while the implant is in place in the channel, wherein, as the fastener is inserted through the opening, a distal end of the fastener extends into and purchases directly within the bone tissue of the sacroiliac joint to secure the implant within the bone tissue.

2 . The implant apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the fastener is configured to be inserted through the sacrum bone and into the subject's ilium bone.

3 . The implant apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the fastener, when inserted, purchases the bone tissue beyond the distal end of the implant.

4 . The implant apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the channel spans the sacroiliac joint and extends into an ilium bone of the subject.

5 . The implant apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a geometric cross-section of the implant includes 3 or more sides.

6 . The implant apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the implant is a cylindrical structure.

7 . The implant apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the implant is a rectilinear structure.

8 . The implant apparatus of claim 1 , wherein an outer surface of the implant has a surface roughness from the macro to nano scale.

9 . The implant apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the implant includes a space truss comprising two or more planar truss units having a plurality of struts joined at nodes.

10 . The implant apparatus of claim 9 , wherein at least one of the planar truss units comprises one or more planar triangular truss units having three substantially straight struts and three nodes in a triangular configuration.

11 . The implant apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the two or more planar truss units are coupled to one another such that at least one planar truss unit lies in a plane that is not substantially parallel to a plane of at least one other planar truss unit that shares at least one strut with the at least one planar truss unit.

12 . The implant apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the two or more planar truss units define an exterior surface of the implant.

13 . The implant apparatus of claim 9 , wherein at least some of the struts define triangular trusses having at least one node shared by two different triangular planar truss units having different corresponding angles.

14 . The implant apparatus of claim 9 , wherein a diameter and a length of the struts in the implant are predetermined to create microstrain in adjacent cellular material, osteoblasts, bone matrix, or lamellar tissue adhered to the struts.

15 . The implant apparatus of claim 9 , wherein a diameter of the struts in the cylindrical structure is predetermined such that a length of the struts in the cylindrical structure undergoes a change of length of between about 0.05% and about 0.2% when the cylindrical structure is in contact with the bone tissue.

16 . The implant apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the implant is sized based on a size of the channel.

17 . An implant apparatus, comprising:

an implant configured to interface with bone tissue in a sacroiliac joint of a subject, and wherein the implant is configured to be placed in a channel formed only in a sacrum bone of the subject;

an opening formed longitudinally through the implant;

a fastener configured to be inserted through the opening of the implant and into the bone tissue beyond a distal end of the implant while the implant is in place in the channel, wherein a distal end of the fastener purchases within bone tissue of an ilium bone of the subject beyond a distal end of the channel to secure the implant within the bone tissue of the ilium bone; and

a locking mechanism configured to be coupled to a proximal end of the fastener, wherein the locking mechanism secures the proximal end of the fastener to the implant.

18 . The implant apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the fastener includes a head configured to allow rotation of the fastener while inserting the fastener through the implant, and wherein the locking mechanism is configured to be coupled to the head of the fastener to hold the head in place relative to the implant.

19 . The implant apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the fastener is configured to be inserted through the sacrum bone and into the subject's ilium bone.

20 . The implant apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the fastener is configured to extend through the opening of the implant and purchase bone tissue beyond the distal end of the implant.

21 . A method, comprising:

obtaining an implant having an opening formed longitudinally through the implant;

forming a channel in a sacrum bone of the subject;

placing the implant into the channel such that the implant interfaces with bone tissue in a sacroiliac joint of a subject;

inserting a fastener through the opening of the implant while the implant is in place in the channel; and

rotating the fastener to purchase a distal end of the fastener within the bone tissue beyond a distal end of the implant while the implant is in place in the channel and secure the implant within the bone tissue.

22 . The method of claim 21 , wherein forming the channel in the sacrum bone includes drilling over the sacrum bone and into the ilium bone.

23 . The method of claim 21 , further comprising palpating the channel before placing the implant into the channel.

24 . The method of claim 21 , further comprising creating a tract for the implant in the channel before placing the implant into the channel.

25 . The method of claim 21 , wherein placing the implant into the channel includes impacting the implant into the channel.

26 . The method of claim 21 , wherein the implant is countersunk into the channel.

27 . The method of claim 21 , further comprising securing a locking mechanism to a proximal end of the fastener, wherein the locking mechanism secures the proximal end of the fastener to the implant.

28 . The implant apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the distal end of the fastener extends into and purchases in the bone tissue beyond a distal end of the channel as the fastener is inserted through the opening.

29 . The implant apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the locking mechanism is secured to the implant around a head of the fastener to inhibit movement of the head of the fastener relative to the implant.

30 . The method of claim 21 , wherein rotating the fastener moves the distal end of the fastener into bone tissue beyond a distal end of the channel with the distal end of the fastener purchasing in the bone tissue as the fastener is secured to the implant.

Assignments (2)

Continuity (11)

References Cited (374)