US 12,458,417 B2
Intermedullary lengthening implant with integrated load sensor
Nathan Meyer, Vista, CA (US); and Youngsam Bae, Placentia, CA (US)
Assigned to Nuvasive Specialized Orthopedics Inc., San Diego, CA (US)
Filed by NuVasive Specialized Orthopedics, Inc., San Diego, CA (US)
Filed on Aug. 15, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/887,789.
Prior Publication US 2024/0050134 A1, Feb. 15, 2024
Int. Cl. A61B 17/72 (2006.01); A61B 17/00 (2006.01); A61B 17/56 (2006.01); A61B 90/00 (2016.01)
CPC A61B 17/7216 (2013.01) [A61B 2017/00221 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00398 (2013.01); A61B 2017/564 (2013.01); A61B 2090/064 (2016.02); A61B 2562/0252 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An implant for moving bone in a patient's body, the implant comprising:
an implantable biocompatible housing having a longitudinal axis;
a first adjustment rod at least partially overlapping the implantable biocompatible housing;
a driver configured to drive the first adjustment rod to enable movement of the first adjustment rod relative to the implantable biocompatible housing;
a load sensor positioned within the implantable biocompatible housing and configured to indicate a load applied by the driver on the first adjustment rod, wherein the implantable biocompatible housing has a non-circular cross-section perpendicular to the longitudinal axis that limits rotation of the load sensor; and
a wedge lock positioned within the implantable housing and configured to be engaged to transfer tension to the load sensor when the implant is in tensile mode
wherein the load sensor includes a bi-directional load sensor coupled with the driver and configured to indicate both a compressive load and a tensile load applied by the driver to the first adjustment rod, wherein the load sensor is rotationally fixed relative to the implantable biocompatible housing.