CPC A61F 2/442 (2013.01) [A61B 17/3472 (2013.01); A61B 17/8822 (2013.01); A61F 2/4455 (2013.01); A61F 2/447 (2013.01); A61F 2/4601 (2013.01); A61F 2/4611 (2013.01); A61B 17/7065 (2013.01); A61F 2002/2817 (2013.01); A61F 2002/2835 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30092 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30126 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30153 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30156 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30158 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30182 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30187 (2013.01); A61F 2002/302 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30202 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30266 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30304 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30331 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30401 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30431 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30462 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30471 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30476 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30484 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30492 (2013.01); A61F 2002/305 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30507 (2013.01); A61F 2002/3054 (2013.01); A61F 2002/3055 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30556 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30579 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30593 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30601 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30622 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30624 (2013.01); A61F 2/30771 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30772 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30785 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30904 (2013.01); A61F 2002/4415 (2013.01); A61F 2002/448 (2013.01); A61F 2/46 (2013.01); A61F 2002/4627 (2013.01); A61F 2002/4628 (2013.01); A61F 2002/4629 (2013.01); A61F 2002/4631 (2013.01); A61F 2310/00017 (2013.01); A61F 2310/00023 (2013.01); A61F 2310/00029 (2013.01)] | 20 Claims |
1. An expanding implant for insertion between two regions of tissue, the implant comprising:
a base having a contact surface for contacting a first region of tissue, said base comprising a proximal portion having said contact surface and a distal portion having said contact surface interconnected so as to undergo linear relative motion, said base assuming an initial length and being shortened towards a second length by linear relative motion of said proximal portion towards said distal portion, and wherein said base is configured not to deflect when undergoing the linear relative motion;
a deflectable piece having a first rigid linking segment, a second rigid linking segment, and an intermediate portion, wherein said deflectable piece in a fully deflected state defines, together with said base, an asymmetric loop, and wherein said asymmetric loop defines an a least partially enclosed volume;
said first rigid linking segment hingedly connected to a distal region of said distal portion of said base for relative rotation about a single pivot axis relative to said distal portion of the base;
said second rigid linking segment hingedly connected to a proximal region of said proximal portion of said base; and
said intermediate portion having a contact surface for contacting a second region of tissue, said contact surface of said intermediate portion spanning a majority of said second length, said intermediate portion being hingedly connected to said first linking segment and to said second linking segment such that said intermediate portion and said base at the initial length are formed with regions of overlap wherein said intermediate portion has an open receiving section configured to receive therein a portion of said base, shortening of said base from said initial length towards said second length causes an increase in a distance between said contact surface of said base and said intermediate portion and deflects said deflectable piece to said fully deflected state without deflecting said base to form, with said base, the asymmetric loop.
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