US 11,771,471 B2
Growing rods and methods of use
Amir Ali Sharifi-Mehr, Bloomingdale, NJ (US); and Oliver Buchert, Franklin Lakes, NJ (US)
Assigned to Stryker European Operations Holdings LLC, Kalamazoo, MI (US)
Filed by Stryker European Operations Holdings LLC, Kalamazoo, MI (US)
Filed on Jan. 20, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/153,412.
Application 17/153,412 is a continuation of application No. 16/133,069, filed on Sep. 17, 2018, granted, now 10,952,776.
Application 16/133,069 is a continuation of application No. 14/993,555, filed on Jan. 12, 2016, granted, now 10,092,328, issued on Oct. 9, 2018.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/102,778, filed on Jan. 13, 2015.
Prior Publication US 2021/0137564 A1, May 13, 2021
Int. Cl. A61B 17/70 (2006.01); A61B 17/00 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 17/7011 (2013.01) [A61B 17/7002 (2013.01); A61B 17/7004 (2013.01); A61B 17/7014 (2013.01); A61B 17/7016 (2013.01); A61B 17/7017 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00221 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00539 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of expanding an implanted spinal rod comprising:
introducing hydraulic fluid into a hydraulic pressure chamber of a first rod portion of the spinal rod so that the hydraulic fluid causes a second rod portion to move in a first direction relative to the first rod portion, wherein the second rod portion has an elongate rod section having a longitudinal length with a constant cross-sectional shape, the cross-section being transverse to the longitudinal length; and
moving a locking member along an axis that intersects a longitudinal axis of the second rod portion such that the locking member engages with a tapered surface of the first rod portion to prevent the second rod portion from moving in a second direction opposite the first direction.