Patent ID: 9522019
Filing Date: 2016-12-20
CPC Classification: A61B,B22F,B29C,B29K,B29L,Y02P

Claim Text:
1. An implant for the stabilization of bones or vertebrae, the implant having a longitudinal axis that defines a longitudinal direction, the implant comprising a flexible section having a length in the longitudinal direction, wherein the flexible section comprises an outer surface, and at least one cavity located near the surface and having in a cross-section in a plane containing the longitudinal axis a width in the longitudinal direction that is less than the length of the flexible section, the at least one cavity extending in a helical shape around the longitudinal axis, wherein the at least one cavity is connected to the outer surface through at least one slit having in a cross-section in a plane containing the longitudinal axis a width in the longitudinal direction less than the width of the cavity in the longitudinal direction, and wherein the implant is configured to be elastically flexed by a load acting on the implant in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis from an open position in which opposing sidewalls of the slit are spaced apart by the width of the slit to a closed position in which the opposing sidewalls abut one another such that the flexion of the implant is limited by the closure of the slit.