US 12,409,043 B2
Flexible chain implants and instrumentation
Curtis Compton, Elkton, MD (US); Dennis Chien, Vashon, WA (US); Robert Delurio, Aston, PA (US); and Dominique Messerli, Bristol, RI (US)
Assigned to DePuy Synthes Products, Inc., Raynham, MA (US)
Filed by DePuy Synthes Products, Inc., Raynham, MA (US)
Filed on May 15, 2020, as Appl. No. 16/874,870.
Application 14/165,979 is a division of application No. 12/601,468, granted, now 8,673,010, issued on Mar. 18, 2014, previously published as PCT/US2008/068836, filed on Jun. 30, 2008.
Application 16/874,870 is a continuation of application No. 15/869,442, filed on Jan. 12, 2018, granted, now 10,716,679.
Application 15/869,442 is a continuation of application No. 14/165,979, filed on Jan. 28, 2014, granted, now 9,907,667, issued on Mar. 6, 2018.
Claims priority of provisional application 60/947,258, filed on Jun. 29, 2007.
Prior Publication US 2020/0306054 A1, Oct. 1, 2020
Int. Cl. A61F 2/44 (2006.01); A61B 17/70 (2006.01); A61F 2/46 (2006.01); A61F 2/28 (2006.01); A61F 2/30 (2006.01)
CPC A61F 2/442 (2013.01) [A61B 17/7094 (2013.01); A61F 2/4455 (2013.01); A61F 2/4611 (2013.01); A61F 2/28 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30281 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30289 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30387 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30403 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30433 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30471 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30476 (2013.01); A61F 2002/305 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30594 (2013.01); A61F 2002/4415 (2013.01); A61F 2002/444 (2013.01); A61F 2002/4627 (2013.01); A61F 2220/0025 (2013.01); A61F 2220/0041 (2013.01); A61F 2220/0091 (2013.01); A61F 2230/0086 (2013.01); A61F 2230/0091 (2013.01); A61F 2310/00359 (2013.01)] 15 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of implanting a flexible chain implant, the method, comprising:
loading a flexible chain implant into a cannula of an introducer, wherein the loading step comprises weaving a plurality of bodies of the flexible chain implant into a plurality of coils of an advancement mechanism insertable within the cannula, the flexible chain implant having a plurality of links that interconnect the plurality of bodies, wherein the advancement mechanism is elongate along a central axis, and the plurality of coils define an inner diameter that is spaced from the central axis such that the plurality of coils are open between the central axis and the inner diameter, wherein the inner diameter diminishes in a distal direction from a proximal end of the advancement mechanism to a distal end thereof;
inserting a distal end of the introducer into an interior volume within bone; and
rotating the advancement mechanism within the cannula, thereby advancing the flexible chain implant through the cannula and outward from the distal end of the introducer and into the interior volume.