The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 21, 2013
Filed:
Sep. 11, 2007
Kelvin Wai Kwok Yeung, Tai Wai, HK;
William Weijia LU, Hong Kong, HK;
Keith Dip Kei Luk, Pokfulam, HK;
Kenneth Man Chee Cheung, Mid-Levels, HK;
Kelvin Wai Kwok Yeung, Tai Wai, HK;
William Weijia Lu, Hong Kong, HK;
Keith Dip Kei Luk, Pokfulam, HK;
Kenneth Man Chee Cheung, Mid-Levels, HK;
The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, HK;
Abstract
A mechanism to connect the supporting portions of orthopaedic implants such as in the head, spine, upper limb and lower limb and thereby prevent loosening and fretting at the implant interface of an orthopaedic implant construct has been developed based on shape memory effect and super-elasticity of shape memory materials such as nickel-titanium (nitinol or NiTi) shape-memory-alloy, without the use of typical threaded fastening technique. Advantages are conferred by making the entire device, not just connecting pieces, out of shape memory alloy and having shape memory effect and super-elasticity. Heating the memory head of the device will compress the connection portion without the use of an auxiliary device (e.g. coupling member) so that the connection portion can be completely clamped down by the memory head. Further advantages are provided through the use of a two-way shape memory effect in which the memory device can be closed or tightened by heating up the ambient temperature, and re-opened by cooling down the temperature.