Granted Patent B2

US 12,447,025 · App. 16/924,823 · Granted Oct 21, 2025

Inventors: Megan A Stauffer (Wayne, PA); Christopher J. Ryan (Lincoln University, PA); Edward J. McShane, III (Collegeville, PA); Joseph M. Nyahay (Eagleville, PA); Sean S. Bishop (Malvern, PA)

Assignee: Institute for Musculoskeletal Science and Education, Ltd.

A61F2/4455A61F2/30771A61F2/442A61F2002/30011A61F2002/30289A61F2002/30593A61F2002/30772A61F2002/30774A61F2002/3092A61F2002/3093A61F2002/30957A61F2002/30985

Abstract

Claims (48)

1. An implant, comprising:

a body comprised of a peripheral structure, a first support beam and a second support beam;

a plurality of bone contacting elements attached to the body;

wherein the peripheral structure is further comprised of a first lateral portion, a second lateral portion, an anterior portion and a posterior portion;

wherein the first lateral portion and the anterior portion are joined at a first corner portion of the peripheral structure and wherein the second lateral portion and the posterior portion are joined at a second corner portion of the peripheral structure; and

wherein the first support beam has a first end attached to the first corner portion of the peripheral structure and wherein the first support beam has a second end attached to the second corner portion of the peripheral structure;

wherein at least one of the bone contacting elements bridges across a gap between the second support beam and the peripheral structure;

wherein each support beam is in contact with an end of at least one of the plurality of bone contacting elements; and

wherein at least one of the first support beam and the second support beam is a tapered support beam having a longitudinal axis and a cross-sectional area that is tapered along the longitudinal axis.

2. The implant according to claim 1 , wherein the first support beam and the second support beam are arranged in parallel.

3. The implant according to claim 2 , further including a third support beam.

4. The implant according to claim 3 , wherein the third support beam is arranged in parallel with the first support beam and the second support beam.

5. The implant according to claim 1 , wherein the body includes an opening for receiving part of an insertion device;

wherein the opening is disposed in the first corner portion.

6. The implant according to claim 5 , wherein the opening has a central axis and wherein the central axis of the opening is aligned with the first support beam.

7. The implant according to claim 5 , wherein a posterior-anterior axis of the implant extends from the posterior portion to the anterior portion of the peripheral structure, and wherein the first support beam is oriented at an oblique angle with respect to the posterior-anterior axis.

8. The implant according to claim 1 , wherein the tapered support beam has a first end proximate to the peripheral structure on a first side of the implant, a second end proximate to the peripheral structure on a second side of the implant, and a central portion disposed between the first end and the second end;

wherein the first end has a first cross-sectional area;

wherein the second end has a second cross-sectional area;

wherein the central portion has a third cross-sectional area; and

wherein the third cross-sectional area is smaller than at least one of the first cross-sectional area and the second cross-sectional area.

9. The implant according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the support beams is a variable geometry support beam having a length extending between a first end and a second end, and a cross-sectional shape that varies along the length.

10. The implant according to claim 9 , wherein a first section of the variable geometry support beam has a polygonal cross-sectional shape and a second section of the variable geometry support beam has a rounded cross-sectional shape.

11. An implant, comprising:

a body comprised of a peripheral structure;

a plurality of bone contacting elements attached to the body;

wherein the peripheral structure is further comprised of a first lateral portion, a second lateral portion, an anterior portion and a posterior portion;

wherein the first lateral portion and the anterior portion are joined at a first corner portion of the peripheral structure and wherein the second lateral portion and the posterior portion are joined at a second corner portion of the peripheral structure;

wherein the second lateral portion and the anterior portion are joined at a third corner portion of the peripheral structure and wherein the first lateral portion and the posterior portion are joined at a fourth corner portion of the peripheral structure;

the plurality of bone contacting elements presenting a first curved surface on a superior side of the implant and a second curved surface on an inferior side of the implant;

wherein the first curved surface curves from the third corner portion to the fourth corner portion;

wherein the first curved surface is a first convex surface and the second curved surface is a second convex surface;

wherein the implant includes three support beams and wherein each support beam is in contact with an end of at least one of the plurality of bone contacting elements;

wherein the plurality of bone contacting elements includes at least one bone contacting element that extends from one of the support beams to another of the support beams; and

wherein at least one of the three support beams is a tapered support beam having a longitudinal axis and a cross-sectional area that is tapered along the longitudinal axis.

12. The implant according to claim 11 , wherein the implant includes an opening for receiving part of an insertion device.

13. The implant according to claim 12 , wherein the opening is disposed in the first corner portion.

14. The implant according to claim 11 , wherein the first convex surface is curved in a first direction and a second direction.

15. The implant according to claim 14 , wherein the second direction is perpendicular to the first direction.

16. The implant according to claim 15 , wherein the first direction is associated with a direction of the implant that is oriented from the first corner portion to the second corner portion and wherein the second direction is associated with a direction of the implant that is oriented from the third corner portion to the fourth corner portion.

17. The implant according to claim 16 , wherein the first convex surface has greater curvature along the second direction than along the first direction.

18. The implant according to claim 11 , wherein the tapered support beam has a first end proximate to the peripheral structure on a first side of the implant, a second end proximate to the peripheral structure on a second side of the implant, and a central portion disposed between the first end and the second end;

wherein the first end has a first cross-sectional area;

wherein the second end has a second cross-sectional area;

wherein the central portion has a third cross-sectional area; and

wherein the third cross-sectional area is smaller than at least one of the first cross-sectional area and the second cross-sectional area.

19. The implant according to claim 11 , wherein at least one of the support beams is a variable geometry support beam having a length extending between a first end and a second end, and a cross-sectional shape that varies along the length.

20. The implant according to claim 19 , wherein a first section of the variable geometry support beam has a polygonal cross-sectional shape and a second section of the variable geometry support beam has a rounded cross-sectional shape.

Continuity (7)

References Cited (400)