Bone staple and methods for correcting bone deficiencies by controllably suppressing and/or inducing the growth of the epiphyseal plate

Abstract

A bone staple for repairing bones and/or correcting bone deficiencies by controlling the growth of the epiphyseal plate, the staple comprising a body comprising a cross bar and at least two legs extending from the cross bar, the legs being designed for introducing into the bone. The body is made of a shape memory alloy and the legs normally diverge from each other defining spring legs tending to move apart from each other under a compression force, whereby a lengthening of the epiphyseal plate is induced. Preferably, the cross bar extends beyond the connection to the legs and forms stop means for abutting the bone and keep the cross bar spaced apart from the epiphyseal plate. Additionally, each leg includes an helical thread designed for anchoring into the bone, for firmly retaining the staple into the bone and for unscrewing the legs once the stable should be removed.

1 - 21 . (Canceled)  
   
   
       22 . A method for installing and removing a bone staple for repairing bones and correcting bone deficiencies, the method comprising: 
 i. providing a staple comprising a body comprising a cross bar and at least two legs extending from the cross bar, wherein each leg includes an helical thread designed for anchoring into the bone, the cross bar being designed to be cut for removing the staple legs from the bone;    ii. installing the staple by inserting the legs of the staple into the bone;    iii. waiting for a period of time enough for repairing the bone or correcting the bone deficiency, wherein the staple legs are anchored into the bone;    iv. cutting the cross bar in a location between the legs; and    v. removing each leg from the bone by gripping and unscrewing the leg from the bone.    
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the installing step comprises nailing the staple into the bone.  
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the step of nailing comprises: 
 drilling orifices in the bone for receiving the legs of the staple.    
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the step of nailing comprises: 
 nailing the staple directly into the bone by hammering the staple on the bone.    
   
   
       26 . The staple of  claim 22 , further comprising retaining means at each side of the cross bar, the retaining means being defined by at least one ear for receiving fastening means.  
   
   
       27 . A bone staple for use in the method of  claim 22 , for repairing bones and correcting bone deficiencies, the staple comprising: 
 a body comprising a cross bar and at least two legs extending from the cross bar, wherein each leg includes an helical thread designed for anchoring into the bone, the cross bar being designed to be cut whereby once the bone deficiency is overcome and the staple is anchored the cross bar is cut and each leg is unscrewed and removed from the bone.    
   
   
       28 . The staple of  claim 27 , wherein the helical thread defines a screw in each leg of the staple.  
   
   
       29 . The staple of  claim 27 , wherein the helical thread is defined by a longitudinal cross section comprising an upper flat plane and a lower inclined plane, both planes helically extending around the corresponding leg.  
   
   
       30 . A method for installing a bone staple for correcting bone deficiencies by controlling the growth of the epiphyseal plate, the method comprising: 
 i. providing a staple comprising a body having a cross bar and at least two legs extending from the cross bar, and stop means at the corner joint between the cross bar and the legs for abutting the bone, the cross bar defining an arc shape extending between the legs and at a level higher than the stop means;    ii. placing the staple with the cross bar spanning across the epiphyseal plate; and    iii. nailing the staple into the bone with at least one leg nailed at each side of the epiphyseal plate, whereby the stop means abut against the bone at each side of the epiphyseal plate and the arc shaped cross bar remains spaced apart from the epiphyseal plate.    
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the step of nailing comprises: 
 drilling orifices in the bone for receiving the legs of the staple.    
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the step of nailing comprises: 
 nailing the staple directly into the bone by hammering the staple into the bone.    
   
   
       33 . A bone staple for use in the method of  claim 30 , for correcting bone deficiencies by controlling the growth of the epiphyseal plate, the staple comprising: 
 a body comprising a cross bar and at least two legs extending from the cross bar, and    stop means at the corner joint between the cross bar and the legs for abutting the bone, the cross bar defining an arc shape extending between the legs and at a level higher than the stop means, whereby when the staple is installed into the bone the arc shaped cross bar remains spaced apart from the epiphyseal plate.    
   
   
       34 . The staple of  claim 33 , wherein the stop means comprises a shoulder normally extending from the corner joint, the shoulder being curved to prevent stress concentration.  
   
   
       35 . The staple of  claim 33 , wherein the stop means comprises a shoulder normally a reinforcing means at each corner joint between the legs and the cross bar, the reinforcing means operating to oppose any diverging movement of the legs away from each other.  
   
   
       36 . The staple of  claim 33 , wherein the cross bar extends beyond said corner joint and the stop means for abutting the bone is formed in the extension of the cross bar.