Patent ID: 8945220
Filing Date: 2015-02-03
Classification: A61B,A61C,A61F,A61L

Abstract:
1. A method of treating an area of tissue, the method comprising the steps of: removing a first amount of tissue from a body site, at least a portion of the tissue being diseased, damaged, or defective, thereby leaving a cavity having a first length; selecting a spacer for temporary introduction into the cavity, the spacer including a body portion having 1) a first end and a second end that are each configured to face a portion of bone that defines the cavity when the spacer is inserted into the cavity, 2) a longitudinal axis that extends from the first end to the second end, and a second length measured along the longitudinal axis from the first end to the second end, 3) a first pair of inner side walls that face each other and define a first recess, the first pair of side walls spaced from each other along the longitudinal axis by a first distance so as to define a width of the first recess, and 4) a second pair of inner side walls that face each other and define a second recess adjacent to the first recess, wherein one of the second pair of inner side walls that faces away from the first recess is spaced from one of the first pair of inner side walls that faces away from the-second recess along the longitudinal axis a second distance that is greater than the first distance; moving at least one of the first end and the second end relative to the other of the first end and the second end so as to change the width of the first recess thereby further changing the second length of the body portion such that the spacer is configured to fit within the cavity; and temporarily placing the spacer into the cavity.