US 12,268,384 B2
Joining element
Joerg Mayer, Oberdorf (CH); Jochen Ganz, Oberdorf (CH); Beat Keller, Oberdorf (CH); and Ralph Hertel, Oberdorf (CH)
Assigned to DePuy Synthes Products, Inc., Raynham, MA (US)
Filed by DePuy Synthes Products, Inc., Raynham, MA (US)
Filed on Sep. 14, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/932,038.
Application 16/724,426 is a division of application No. 15/687,784, filed on Aug. 28, 2017, granted, now 10,542,972, issued on Jan. 28, 2020.
Application 13/800,889 is a division of application No. 11/913,656, granted, now 8,870,915, issued on Oct. 28, 2014, previously published as PCT/EP2006/062061, filed on May 4, 2006.
Application 17/932,038 is a continuation of application No. 16/724,426, filed on Dec. 23, 2019, granted, now 11,471,154.
Application 15/687,784 is a continuation of application No. 13/800,889, filed on Mar. 13, 2013, granted, now 9,757,121, issued on Sep. 12, 2017.
Claims priority of application No. SE0834/05 (CH), filed on May 4, 2005.
Prior Publication US 2023/0144510 A1, May 11, 2023
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. A61B 17/06 (2006.01); A61B 17/04 (2006.01); A61L 17/00 (2006.01); B29C 61/06 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 17/06166 (2013.01) [A61B 17/04 (2013.01); A61L 17/00 (2013.01); A61L 17/005 (2013.01); B29C 61/0608 (2013.01)] 21 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A joining element elongate along a longitudinal direction, comprising:
an inner core that extends substantially along the longitudinal direction, the inner core comprising swellable silicone and an osmotically active substance; and
a jacket surrounding at least a portion of the inner core along the longitudinal direction and defining a length in the longitudinal direction between opposed ends of the jacket, the jacket comprising polyester threads and defining at least one angle relative to the longitudinal direction,
wherein upon exposure of fluid to the osmotically active substance, the osmotically active substance causes the swellable silicone to swell so that the inner core swells against the jacket along a direction that is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction to thereby increase the at least one angle and decrease the length of the jacket along the longitudinal direction.