Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
  • A61B17/00—Surgical instruments, devices or methods
  • A61B17/04—Surgical instruments, devices or methods for suturing wounds; Holders or packages for needles or suture materials
  • A61B17/0401—Suture anchors, buttons or pledgets, i.e. means for attaching sutures to bone, cartilage or soft tissue; Instruments for applying or removing suture anchors
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
  • A61B17/00—Surgical instruments, devices or methods
  • A61B17/04—Surgical instruments, devices or methods for suturing wounds; Holders or packages for needles or suture materials
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
  • A61B17/00—Surgical instruments, devices or methods
  • A61B17/064—Surgical staples, i.e. penetrating the tissue
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
  • A61B17/00—Surgical instruments, devices or methods
  • A61B17/064—Surgical staples, i.e. penetrating the tissue
  • A61B17/0642—Surgical staples, i.e. penetrating the tissue for bones, e.g. for osteosynthesis or connecting tendon to bone
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
  • A61B17/00—Surgical instruments, devices or methods
  • A61B17/11—Surgical instruments, devices or methods for performing anastomosis; Buttons for anastomosis
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
  • A61B17/00—Surgical instruments, devices or methods
  • A61B17/56—Surgical instruments or methods for treatment of bones or joints; Devices specially adapted therefor
  • A61B17/58—Surgical instruments or methods for treatment of bones or joints; Devices specially adapted therefor for osteosynthesis, e.g. bone plates, screws or setting implements
  • A61B17/68—Internal fixation devices, including fasteners and spinal fixators, even if a part thereof projects from the skin
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
  • A61B17/00—Surgical instruments, devices or methods
  • A61B17/56—Surgical instruments or methods for treatment of bones or joints; Devices specially adapted therefor
  • A61B17/58—Surgical instruments or methods for treatment of bones or joints; Devices specially adapted therefor for osteosynthesis, e.g. bone plates, screws or setting implements
  • A61B17/68—Internal fixation devices, including fasteners and spinal fixators, even if a part thereof projects from the skin
  • A61B17/84—Fasteners therefor or fasteners being internal fixation devices
  • A61B17/86—Pins or screws or threaded wires; nuts therefor
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
  • A61B17/00—Surgical instruments, devices or methods
  • A61B17/56—Surgical instruments or methods for treatment of bones or joints; Devices specially adapted therefor
  • A61B17/58—Surgical instruments or methods for treatment of bones or joints; Devices specially adapted therefor for osteosynthesis, e.g. bone plates, screws or setting implements
  • A61B17/68—Internal fixation devices, including fasteners and spinal fixators, even if a part thereof projects from the skin
  • A61B17/84—Fasteners therefor or fasteners being internal fixation devices
  • A61B17/86—Pins or screws or threaded wires; nuts therefor
  • A61B17/866—Material or manufacture
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61L—METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES
  • A61L17/00—Materials for surgical sutures or for ligaturing blood vessels ; Materials for prostheses or catheters
  • A61L17/04—Non-resorbable materials
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61L—METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES
  • A61L31/00—Materials for other surgical articles, e.g. stents, stent-grafts, shunts, surgical drapes, guide wires, materials for adhesion prevention, occluding devices, surgical gloves, tissue fixation devices
  • A61L31/02—Inorganic materials
  • A61L31/022—Metals or alloys
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61L—METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES
  • A61L31/00—Materials for other surgical articles, e.g. stents, stent-grafts, shunts, surgical drapes, guide wires, materials for adhesion prevention, occluding devices, surgical gloves, tissue fixation devices
  • A61L31/08—Materials for coatings
  • A61L31/10—Macromolecular materials
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61L—METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES
  • A61L31/00—Materials for other surgical articles, e.g. stents, stent-grafts, shunts, surgical drapes, guide wires, materials for adhesion prevention, occluding devices, surgical gloves, tissue fixation devices
  • A61L31/14—Materials characterised by their function or physical properties, e.g. injectable or lubricating compositions, shape-memory materials, surface modified materials
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61L—METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES
  • A61L31/00—Materials for other surgical articles, e.g. stents, stent-grafts, shunts, surgical drapes, guide wires, materials for adhesion prevention, occluding devices, surgical gloves, tissue fixation devices
  • A61L31/14—Materials characterised by their function or physical properties, e.g. injectable or lubricating compositions, shape-memory materials, surface modified materials
  • A61L31/148—Materials at least partially resorbable by the body
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
  • A61B17/00—Surgical instruments, devices or methods
  • A61B2017/00004—(bio)absorbable, (bio)resorbable or resorptive
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
  • A61B17/00—Surgical instruments, devices or methods
  • A61B2017/00367—Details of actuation of instruments, e.g. relations between pushing buttons, or the like, and activation of the tool, working tip, or the like
  • A61B2017/00411—Details of actuation of instruments, e.g. relations between pushing buttons, or the like, and activation of the tool, working tip, or the like actuated by application of energy from an energy source outside the body
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
  • A61B17/00—Surgical instruments, devices or methods
  • A61B17/04—Surgical instruments, devices or methods for suturing wounds; Holders or packages for needles or suture materials
  • A61B17/0401—Suture anchors, buttons or pledgets, i.e. means for attaching sutures to bone, cartilage or soft tissue; Instruments for applying or removing suture anchors
  • A61B2017/0403—Dowels
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
  • A61B17/00—Surgical instruments, devices or methods
  • A61B17/04—Surgical instruments, devices or methods for suturing wounds; Holders or packages for needles or suture materials
  • A61B17/0401—Suture anchors, buttons or pledgets, i.e. means for attaching sutures to bone, cartilage or soft tissue; Instruments for applying or removing suture anchors
  • A61B2017/0414—Suture anchors, buttons or pledgets, i.e. means for attaching sutures to bone, cartilage or soft tissue; Instruments for applying or removing suture anchors having a suture-receiving opening, e.g. lateral opening
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
  • A61B17/00—Surgical instruments, devices or methods
  • A61B17/04—Surgical instruments, devices or methods for suturing wounds; Holders or packages for needles or suture materials
  • A61B17/0401—Suture anchors, buttons or pledgets, i.e. means for attaching sutures to bone, cartilage or soft tissue; Instruments for applying or removing suture anchors
  • A61B2017/042—Suture anchors, buttons or pledgets, i.e. means for attaching sutures to bone, cartilage or soft tissue; Instruments for applying or removing suture anchors plastically deformed during insertion
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
  • A61B17/00—Surgical instruments, devices or methods
  • A61B17/04—Surgical instruments, devices or methods for suturing wounds; Holders or packages for needles or suture materials
  • A61B17/0401—Suture anchors, buttons or pledgets, i.e. means for attaching sutures to bone, cartilage or soft tissue; Instruments for applying or removing suture anchors
  • A61B2017/0446—Means for attaching and blocking the suture in the suture anchor
  • A61B2017/0448—Additional elements on or within the anchor

Definitions

• the present invention generally relates to fixation devices for use in suturing of soft tissue to bone and in bone fixation. More particularly, the present invention relates to a fixation device comprising a core of a biodegradable metal or metal alloy. An exemplary embodiment of the invention relates to a method for inserting the fixation device.
• Soft tissue tears, bone fracture or joint dislocation all generally require a fixation device to be correctly treated. In some cases, however, drilling a hole to accommodate the fixation device and/or tapping the fixation device into the bone may damage or split the bone. These damaged bones may be repaired by inserting, for example, a revision implant therethrough. For some small and/or thin bones, however, insertion of a revision implant may be difficult or even impossible.
• the present invention relates to a bone anchor having a longitudinal axis, an inner core including a tip coaxial with the longitudinal axis and a sleeve surrounding the core and comprising a thermoplastic polymer, wherein the core comprise one of a biodegradable metal, metal alloy and glass-metal.
• Bone anchors according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention allow the implant to fully resorb leaving no trace in the body and eliminating the need for a second procedure to remove them while reducing the risk of migration of the implant.
• the bone anchors used in accord with this invention may be monocortical and do not interfere with imaging.
• a bone anchor according to one exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a core comprising magnesium or a magnesium alloy.
• the anchor may include a spark anodization treated surface.
• a bone anchor according to another exemplary embodiment includes a core comprising an iron alloy.
• the iron alloy may be formed by passivation in chromate solution, in borate buffer solution or in nitric acid.
• the iron alloy may be any suitable iron alloy such as, Fe35Mn.
• a bone anchor according to a further exemplary embodiment has a core comprising an amorphous glass-metal, preferably a bulk metal glass.
• the bulk metal glass may be of the MgCaZn type such as, for example, Mg 63 Zn 32 Ca 5 and Mg 6 oZn3 5 Ca 5 ,
• Mg 32 Zn 5 Ca or Mg 35 Zn 5 Ca may be degraded with the formation of less hydrogen gas when contacted with water and a higher mechanical strength may be achieved.
• a typical member is known commercially as WE43.
• the non-bulk metal glass may be treated at its surface by hard anodization according to ASTM B893, spark anodization, plasma electrolyte oxidation, micro-arc oxidation (MAO) or anodization at 100V.
• the thermoplastic polymer is biodegradable and may belong to the polylactide or caprolactone family including all the co-polymers for these families.
• the core may be hollow such that the metallic material to be degraded may be minimized.
• the distal tip of the core may extend distally past a distal end of the sleeve.
• the distal tip of the core may be pointed so that the pointed tip can break the cortex and penetrate the bone.
• the sleeve may include metallic or organic dye particles for diffracting light.
• the bone anchor may additionally comprise a suture attached to the bone anchor.
• the inner core may include a through bore extending transversely therethrough to allow a suture to be inserted therethrough.
• the sleeve comprises a through opening extending transversely therethrough such that the through opening aligns with and is in communication with the through bore of the inner core.
• the bone anchor may additionally comprise an end cap attachable to the proximal end of the inner core and including a through hole extending transversely therethrough to allow a suture to be passed therethrough.
• the inner core comprises a hook at the proximal end of the inner core to attach a suture to the bone anchor.
• the present invention relates to a method for inserting the bone anchor into a bone.
• the method comprising the following steps: a) inserting the bone anchor into bone by pressing the distal tip of the core thereagainst; and b) heating the sleeve by applying electromagnetic radiation through the sleeve, thereby softening and/or melting the thermoplastic polymer such that the sleeve expands into the surrounding bone tissue.
• FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic longitudinal section through a bone anchor according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention, before insertion into bone;
• FIG. 2 illustrates the bone anchor of Fig. 1 after insertion/impaction into bone via its tip
• FIG. 3 illustrates the activation of the inserted bone anchor of Fig. 2 by irradiation of laser light through its sleeve
• Fig. 4 illustrates the softened, partly melted sleeve material of Fig. 3, which has penetrated into the surrounding bone structure;
• FIG. 5 illustrates a schematic longitudinal section through a bone anchor according to a further exemplary embodiment of the present invention
• Fig. 6 illustrates a schematic longitudinal section through a bone anchor according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention
• FIG. 7 illustrates a schematic longitudinal section through a bone anchor according to a further exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
• FIG. 8 illustrates a schematic longitudinal section through a bone anchor according to yet another exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
• the present invention may be further understood with reference to the following description and the appended drawings, wherein like elements are referred to with the same reference numerals.
• the present invention relates to the treatment of several bone and soft tissue injuries and, in particular, relates to a device that may be inserted and fixed within a bone.
• a fixation device such as a bone anchor, including a sleeve that may be energy-activated to partially expand into surrounding bone tissue to fix the bone anchor therein.
• proximal and distal as used herein, are intended to refer to a direction toward (proximal) and away from (distal) a surgeon or other user of the device.
• Figs. 1 to 4 illustrate an embodiment of a bone anchor 1 comprising an inner core 3 extending along a longitudinal axis 2 and a sleeve 4 extending about the core 3. Additionally, the bone anchor 1 further comprises a suture 6 attached to the inner core 3 and/or the sleeve 4. The suture 6 may be used to reattach soft tissue to the bone in a simple manner.
• the core 3 extends from a distal end 5 to a proximal end 10 and may be formed of a biodegradable metal or metal alloy, e.g. magnesium or a magnesium alloy. In a preferred embodiment, a cross-section of the core 3 is substantially circular.
• the inner core 3 may be a solid cylinder or, alternatively, a tube to minimize an amount of metallic material to be degraded.
• the distal end 5 may include a sharp and/or tapered tip such that the bone anchor 1 may be inserted into a bone 11 without having to pre-drill the bone 1 1.
• the sharp and/or tapered tip 5 may break the cortex of the bone 1 1 when pressed thereagainst such that the bone anchor 1 may be inserted therein.
• the sleeve 4 surrounds a perimeter of the core 3 and extends from a distal end 8 to a proximal end 9.
• the distal end 5 of the core 3 extends distally beyond the distal end 8 of the sleeve 4, however, so that the tapered distal tip of the core 3 may facilitate insertion of the bone anchor 1 into the bone 1 1.
• the proximal end 10 of the core 3 may also extend proximally past the proximal end 9 of the sleeve 4.
• the sleeve 4 may extend about the core 3, along only a portion of a length thereof.
• the sleeve 4 may taper substantially conically from the proximal end 9 towards the distal end 8.
• the sleeve 4 may be formed as a coating on the inner core 3 or may be fixed to the inner core 3 in any known manner such as, for example, by a press fit.
• the sleeve 4 may, for example, be comprised of a thermoplastic polymer, which may be chosen from the following groups: poly-alpha-hydroxyester, polyorthoester, polyanhydride, polyphosphazines, poly(propylenefumarate), polyesteramide,
• a thermoplastic polymer which may be chosen from the following groups: poly-alpha-hydroxyester, polyorthoester, polyanhydride, polyphosphazines, poly(propylenefumarate), polyesteramide,
• polyethylenefumarate polylactide, polyglycolide, polycaprolacton,
• trimethylenecarbonate polydioxanone, polyhydroxybutyrate, as well their copolymers and admixtures.
• the sleeve 4 may additionally comprise materials preferably chosen from the following groups: metals, carbon, ceramics, PEEK, non-thermoplastic polymers that are preferably chosen from the group of polymethylmethacrylate and/or inorganic materials such as potassium phosphate, calcium sulphate or bone cement.
• the sleeve 4 may also comprise the following chromophores and pigments: chlorophyll, carbon black, graphite, fluorescein, methylene blue, indocyanine green, eosine; eosine Y (514 nm), ethyleosine (532 nm), acridine, acridine orange, copper phtalocyanine, chrome- cobalt-aluminum oxide, ferrous ammonium citrate, pyrogallol, logwood extract, chlorophyll-copper complex, D&C blue No. 9, D&C green No. 5, [phtalocyaninate(2-)] copper, D&C blue no. 2, D&C blue no. 6, D&C green no.
• the sleeve 4 may comprise fluorescent chromophores which, under certain circumstances, do not absorb light but radiate off light that is absorbed from the surroundings, the polymer or any additionally introduced chromophore.
• These additional materials may be provided in the form of metallic or organic dye particles distributed throughout the sleeve 4 or within a portion of the sleeve 4 through a partial volume of the sleeve 4 only.
• the metallic or organic dye particles may act to diffract light when the sleeve 4 is heated by a radiation device 7, e.g. a laser, as shown in Fig. 3.
• the inner core 3 may act as a reflector for the
• the sleeve 4 is heated by applying electromagnetic radiation through the sleeve 4, the thermoplastic polymer is softened and partially melted so that the sleeve 4 expands into the surrounding bone tissue. After the electromagnetic radiation is turned off the material of the sleeve 4 cools off and solidifies so that the sleeve 4 is fixed in a cavity of the bone 1 1 , as shown in Fig. 4.
• the bone anchor 1 may be inserted into the bone 1 to fix a fracture and/or fix an implant, such as a bone plate, to the fractured bone 1.
• the bone anchor 1 may be inserted into the bone 1 1 , as shown in Fig. 2, by pressing the tapered distal end 5 into the bone 11.
• the sleeve 4 is activated by an energy source 7.
• Suitable energy sources include a radiation device, a laser, a heat source, an electromagnetic field, a light source, or an ultrasound device. Other energy sources are of course possible as would be understood by the person skilled in the art. As shown in Fig.
• the energy source is a heat source which heats the sleeve 4 such that the sleeve 4 partially melts, expanding into the surrounding bone tissue, as shown in Fig. 4.
• the melted sleeve 4 solidifies as it cools, anchoring the bone anchor 1 in the bone 11.
• FIG. 5 illustrates another embodiment of a bone anchor 100 which may be substantially similar to the bone anchor 1 , as described above in regard to Figs. 1 to 4.
• the bone anchor 100 similarly comprises an inner core 103 surrounded by a sleeve 104, which may be heat activated.
• the inner core 103 comprises a through bore 1 13 extending transversely therethrough.
• the sleeve 104 includes a corresponding through opening 1 14 which aligns with the through bore 1 13 of the inner core 103.
• the through bore 113 may be located in a middle portion of the core 103 along a length of the inner core 103 while the through opening 1 14 may be located toward a proximal end 109 of the sleeve 104.
• a suture 106 may pass through the through bore 113 in the inner core 103 and said the corresponding through opening 114 in the sleeve 104 such that the suture 106 is attached to both the inner core 103 and the sleeve 104.
• Fig. 6 illustrates a further embodiment of a bone anchor 200, which may be substantially similar to the bone anchor 1 , as described above.
• the bone anchor 200 similarly comprises an inner core 203 and a sleeve 204 extending about the inner core 203.
• the bone anchor 200 additionally comprises an end cap 215 which is adapted and configured to be coupled to a proximal end 210 of the inner core 203.
• the end cap 215 may include, for example, a conical joining sized and shaped to be inserted into and coupled with the proximal end 210 of the core 203.
• the end cap 215 may include a through hole 216 extending transversely therethrough (e.g., substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis 202 of the bone anchor 200) allowing a suture 206 to pass therethrough such that the suture 206 may be fixed within the proximal end 210.
• Fig. 7 illustrates another embodiment of a bone anchor 300, which may be substantially similar to the bone anchor 1 , as described above, comprising an inner core 303 surrounded by a sleeve 304 extending about a periphery thereof.
• the inner core 303 further comprises a through bore 313 extending transversely
• Fig. 8 illustrates yet a further embodiment of a bone anchor 400, which may be substantially similar to the bone anchor 1 , as described above, comprising an inner core 403 and a sleeve 404 extending about the core 403.
• the inner core 403 further comprises a hook 417 at a proximal end 410 thereof.
• the hook 417 includes a ring 419 sized and shaped to receive the proximal end 410 of the inner core 403 to attach the hook 417 thereto.
• the ring 419 may be attached to the inner core 403 via, for example, a press fit.
• the hook 417 may include a thread 418 along an inner surface 419 of the ring 419, which engages a threaded portion of the inner core. The hook 417 facilitates attachment of a suture to the inner core 403.
• fixation device is a bone anchor used to suture and reattach soft tissue to bone. It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that other embodiments are of course possible.
• One such embodiment is a bone screw (not shown).
• the bone screw has generally the same configuration as the previously described embodiments except that the bone screw does not feature a suture.
• the bone screw may also include a screw head to, for example, enable the screw to act as an anchor for fixing a bone plate in position on a selected area of a bone requiring fixation.
• composition of matter means, methods and steps described in the specification.
• processes, machines, manufacture, composition of matter, means, methods, or steps, presently existing or later to be developed that perform substantially the same function or achieve substantially the same result as the corresponding embodiments described herein may be utilized according to the present invention.

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• Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
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• General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Heart & Thoracic Surgery (AREA)
• Orthopedic Medicine & Surgery (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
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• 2011
  • 2011-08-31 EP EP11755515.1A patent/EP2613710B1/en not_active Revoked
  • 2011-08-31 JP JP2013528229A patent/JP6017424B2/ja not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2011-08-31 CA CA2804636A patent/CA2804636A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2011-08-31 CN CN201180038398.2A patent/CN103052360B/zh not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2011-08-31 EP EP19209774.9A patent/EP3626180A1/en not_active Withdrawn
  • 2011-08-31 WO PCT/US2011/049994 patent/WO2012033689A1/en not_active Ceased
  • 2011-08-31 BR BR112013001000A patent/BR112013001000A2/pt not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2011-08-31 KR KR1020137004706A patent/KR101878212B1/ko not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2011-08-31 US US13/222,867 patent/US9023088B2/en active Active
• 2015
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