Non-fusion scoliosis expandable spinal rod

摘要

A growing rod for mounting between attachment mechanisms that are secured to anatomical structures of a patient having scoliosis. The growing rod includes a base rod having an attachment end, an extendable rod that is translatable relative to the base rod along a longitudinal axis and a housing enclosing at least a portion of the extendable rod therein. A magnet is rotatably mounted within the housing and is enclosed by a top magnet cover and a bottom magnet cover. The magnet includes a first pole and a second pole. A gear reduction mechanism is associated with the magnet and the extendable rod. The gear reduction mechanism reduces an output rotation to the extendable rod relative to an input rotation from the magnet.

主权项

1. A growing rod, comprising:
a base rod; an extendable rod being translatable relative to the base rod along a longitudinal axis; a housing enclosing at least a portion of the extendable rod therein, the base rod coupled to a first end of the housing, the extendable rod extending from a second end of the housing; a magnet rotatably mounted within the housing, the magnet having a first pole and a second pole; and a gear reduction mechanism coupled to the magnet within the housing such that movement of the magnet is input to the gear reduction mechanism, the gear reduction mechanism reducing input movement of the magnet to produce an output that is translated into longitudinal movement of the extendable rod, the gear reduction mechanism including:
a ratchet arm that is pivotally mounted within the housing;a carrier gear driven by the ratchet arm; anda pawl mounted within the ratchet arm; wherein movement of the ratchet arm drives the pawl to engage pawl teeth with external gear teeth of the carrier gear, wherein internal gear teeth of the carrier gear mate with a corresponding feature of the extendable rod to cause the extendable rod to translate relative to the base rod along the longitudinal axis.