Source: http://www.freshpatents.com/Surgical-implant-shaping-instrument-surgical-system-and-method-dt20060420ptan20060082015.php
Timestamp: 2013-05-22 17:54:02
Document Index: 517290397

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 5', 'art 5', 'art 8', 'art 8', 'art 5', 'art 12', 'art 5', 'art 5', 'art 5', 'art 12', 'art 5', 'art 8', 'art 12', 'art 8', 'art 12', 'art 8', 'art 8', 'art 8', 'art 5', 'art 12', 'arts 5', 'art 5', 'art 5', 'art 8', 'art 12', 'art 12', 'art 5', 'art 5', 'art 5', 'art 5', 'art 5', 'art 12', 'art 12', 'art 8', 'art 5', 'art 8', 'art 12', 'art 8', 'art 8', 'art 5', 'art 5']

Surgical Implant Shaping Instrument, Surgical System And Method Inventor Store
Patents sorted by company.	Class 264 Monitor | RSS | Browse: Prev - Next Surgical implant shaping instrument, surgical system and method Abstract: A surgical implant shaping instrument, a surgical system, and a method for shaping a surgical implant into conformance with a surface of a bony tissue. The implant shaping instrument comprises shaping means arranged in a body part, said shaping means comprising a press element having a flexible structure configured to be pushed against an implant arranged onto an underlying bony tissue so that said implant at least substantially conforms with the shape of the underlying bony tissue. ...
Agent: Banner & Witcoff, Ltd. - Boston, MA, USInventors: Harri Happonen, Andreas Posel, Vesa Vuorisalo, Petri KohoUSPTO Applicaton #: #20060082015 - Class: 264239000 (USPTO) - Class 264 Related Patent Categories: Plastic And Nonmetallic Article Shaping Or Treating: Processes, Mechanical Shaping Or Molding To Form Or Reform Shaped ArticleThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060082015, Surgical implant shaping instrument, surgical system and method.
[0001] The invention relates generally to surgical systems and, more
particularly, instruments for contouring or shaping surgical implants.
More particularly the invention relates to systems and instruments for
shaping an anterior cervical plate into conformance with an underlying
[0002] Fixation systems including plates and fasteners for securing the
plates to a bodily tissue for fixation thereof are commonly known. The
use of spinal fixation plates for correction of spinal deformities and
for fusion of vertebrae, for example, is well known. Typically, a plate
is positioned to span bones or bone segments that need to be immobilized
[0003] Spine plates are often installed posterior or anterior to the
spine. In the case of anterior installations, it is often very difficult
to shape a plate into a perfect conformance with the underlying cervical
tissue. This is because: a) the space around the vertebrae being operated
is very limited, and b) the vertebrae is situated quite far from the
stoma made for the operation.
[0004] Because of imperfect shaping a plate fixed with fasteners, like
screws or rivets, to the spine, may not support the spine in a perfect
way. Additionally, such an imperfectly shaped plate may come into contact
with and chafe against internal soft tissue structures, which can lead to
more or less troublesome consequences, such as a severe inflammation.
[0005] U.S. Pat. No. 5,779,706 describes a surgical system comprising a
thermoplastic, body absorbable, bodily tissue fixation plate having a
plurality of through-bores and a plurality of formations having
configurations adapted to substantially matingly cooperate with a heating
tip of a heating wand. The plate is heated with said heating tip, and
bent into conformance with an underlying bodily tissue. In spite of the
heating tip being configured to minimize the likelihood of damage to the
surrounding tissue, there is always a risk that the heating tip, for some
reason, can cause some damage to a bodily tissue. Furthermore, the
described system and method require lot of time consuming operational
[0006] The object of this invention is to provide a new solution to the
[0007] The invention relates to a surgical implant shaping instrument
comprising a body part, and shaping means arranged in the body-part, said
shaping means comprising a press element having a flexible structure
configured to be pushed against an implant arranged onto an underlying
bony tissue so that said implant conforms at least substantially the
shape of the underlying bony tissue.
[0008] The invention also relates to a surgical system comprising a plate
made of a material malleable at a certain temperature range, and an upper
surface and a lower surface, and a surgical implant shaping instrument,
comprising a body-part and shaping means arranged in the body-part, said
configured to be pushed against the plate and to conform the lower
surface at least substantially into conformation with underlying bony
[0009] The invention further relates to a method for shaping surgical
implant into conformance with a surface of tissue, said implant being
malleable in a certain temperature range, the method comprising the steps
[0010] arranging the implant in a malleable state onto the surface of
[0011] arranging a surgical implant shaping instrument onto the implant in
the way that said implant is between the instrument and the surface of
tissue, said instrument comprising a body part and shaping means arranged
in the body-part, said shaping means comprising a press element having a
flexible structure configured to be pushed against the implant arranged
onto the underlying tissue, and
[0012] pressing the implant against the surface of tissue with said press
element so that said implant conforms at least substantially the shape of
[0013] An advantage of the instrument, the system and the method according
to the invention is that the implant to be fixed to the underlying bony
tissue can be conformed into conformance with said underlying bony tissue
in a reliable, safe and fast way.
[0014] According to an embodiment of the invention, the press element
comprises a flexible polymer material element, e.g. elastomeric material
element, which polymer material may be foamed. The press element may have
a pillow-like structure. An advantage of the embodiment is that a surface
of a flexible polymer material element is capable of adapting to a very
complicated shape of the bony tissue to be fixated. Additionally, the
pillow-like structure may come into contact with the whole upper surface
of the implant and, thanks to that, force the implant over its entire
area into conformance with the underlying tissue. Furthermore, it is
quite simple to manufacture polymer material elements of different
stiffness and shapes. Therefore, an element having the precise stiffness
and other characters needed can be selected according to the operational
needs, properties of the tissue to be fixated and properties of the
implant to be used in an operation.
[0015] According to an embodiment of the invention, the press element is
detachably arranged in the body part. An advantage of the embodiment is
that if necessary, the press element can be changed even during
operation. Furthermore, a detachable press element is very suitable as a
disposable element that needs not to be sterilized after use.
[0016] According to an embodiment of the invention, the instrument further
comprises an implant holding device having holding means for holding the
implant during its fixation to the underlying bony tissue. The press
element is arranged movably with respect to said holding means.
Preferably, the implant holding device is detachably arranged with
respect to the body part of the instrument. An advantage of the
embodiment is that the implant holding device facilitates handling of a
typically small implant to be fixed at the operation site as well as
during its preoperative handling.
[0017] The invention is now described in greater detail in the attached
[0018] FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a surgical system
[0019] FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of a detail of the surgical
system illustrated in FIG. 1,
[0020] FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of a detail of the surgical
[0021] FIG. 4a is a schematic view of a step of a method according to the
[0022] FIG. 4b is a schematic view of another step of the method
illustrated in FIG. 4a,
[0023] FIG. 4c is a schematic view of still another step of the method
[0024] FIG. 4d is a schematic view of still another step of the method
[0025] FIG. 5 is a schematic side view of a plate of a second surgical
[0026] FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view of a third surgical system
[0027] FIG. 7 is a schematic perspective view of a detail of the surgical
system illustrated in FIG. 6,
[0028] FIG. 8 is a schematic side view of a detail of a fourth surgical
system according to the invention, and
[0029] FIG. 9 is a schematic side view of a detail of a fifth surgical
system according to the invention.
[0030] For the sake of clarity, the figures show the invention in a
simplified manner. Like reference numbers identify like elements.
[0031] FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a surgical system
according to the invention. The surgical system 1 includes a fixation
plate 2, a surgical implant shaping instrument 3, and an implant holding
[0032] The plate 2 is made of a polymer material or polymer composite
material suitable for conforming to various shapes. Preferably, the
manufacturing material of the plate 2 is a material that dissolves in the
body. The material of the plate may comprise, for instance, a polymer or
a copolymer of lactic acid, L-lactide, D-lactide, D,L-lactide,
mesolactide, glycolic acid, glycolide or the like and optionally some
other polymer or copolymer of a cyclic ester which is copolymerizable
with lactide. The base material may also contain other co-monomers which
impart desired properties to the material, such as .alpha., .beta. and
.gamma.-hydroxybutyric acid, .alpha., .beta. and .gamma.-hydroxyvaleric
acid and other hydroxy fatty acids (C.sub.11 to C.sub.25), such as
stearic acid, palmitic acid, oleic acid, lauric acid and the like.
Accordingly, the base material can be a polylactide, polyglycolide,
poly(L-lactide), poly(D-lactide), poly(L-lactide-co-D,L-lactide),
poly(L-lactide-co-mesolactide), poly(L-lactide-co-glycolide),
poly(L-lactide-co-.epsilon.-caprolactone),
poly(D,L-lactide-co-mesolactide), poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide),
poly(D,L-lactide-co-.epsilon.-caprolactone),
poly(mesolactide-co-glycolide),
poly(mesolactide-co-.epsilon.-caprolactone) or the like. The monomer
units of the co-polymeric base material can be present in a ratio of
50:50 to 85:15 or in any other suitable ratio in there between. For
example, suitable co-polymeric base materials include
poly(L-lactide-co-D,L-lactide) 70:30, poly(L-lactide-co-D,L-lactide)
80:20, poly(L-lactide-co-glycolide) 85:15 and
poly(L-lactide-co-glycolide) 80:20. It should be noted that the polymers
and copolymers suitable for use as the base material are known per se and
can be easily prepared by preparation methods which are well-known to a
[0033] The material may also be a blend that contains one or more of the
above mentioned materials as a base material and one or more copolymer
additives. A copolymer additive comprises one or more monomers, the
ductility of the blend being higher at room temperature than that of pure
base material. The copolymer additive may contain trimethylene carbonate
(TMC) or dioxanone, for instance. Certain advantageous copolymer
additives include poly(L-lactide-co-trimethylene carbonate),
poly(D,L-lactide-co-trimethylene carbonate),
poly(mesolactide-co-trimethylene carbonate), poly(glycole-co-trimethylene
carbonate), poly(L-lactide-co-dioxanone), poly(D,L-lactide-co-dioxanone),
poly(mesolactide-co-dioxanone), poly(glycolide-co-dioxanone) and the
like. The proportion of copolymer additive in the blend can be, for
example, 1 to 50% by weight, preferably 20 to 50% by weight and most
preferably 20 to 40% by weight.
[0034] Further, the material can be a so-called combination material, i.e.
composite, that may contain bio-glass, bio-ceramics, a pharmaceutical
product, such as an antibiotic or growth factor, etc.
[0035] It should be noted that the manufacturing material of the plate 2
can also be a biostable polymer material, i.e. a polymer material that
does not dissolve in the body. Such biostable materials include, for
instance, polyolefins and polyaryletherketones.
[0036] The plate 2 comprises a plurality of through-bores through which
fasteners are inserted to secure the plate 2 to an underlying bony
tissue. It should be noted here that said through-bores, fasteners or an
underlying bony tissue are not shown in FIG. 1 but in figures
[0037] The surgical implant shaping instrument 3 has a body part 5, and
shaping means 6. The body part 5 has an elongated shape having a first
end 9 and a second end 10. The first end 9 is provided with the shaping
means 6. The second end 10 is provided with a handle 11 of the implant
shaping instrument.
[0038] The shaping means 6 comprise a press element 7 and a body part 8.
The press element 7 is detachably arranged to the body part 8 of the
shaping means as well as to the body part 5 of the instrument 3. The
press element 7 is an elastic component having a cube-like structure. Of
course, the press element may also have some other shape. The features of
the press element 7 are described in more detail in connection with FIG.
[0039] An implant holding device 4 comprises an elongated body part 12. In
the first end of the implant holding device 4, holding means 14 are
arranged for holding the plate 2 in place during its shaping into
conformance with an underlying bony tissue. The implant holding device 4
is detachably arranged to the body part 5 of the instrument 3, i.e. the
instrument 3 and the holding device 4 can be separated from each other.
[0040] The shaping means 6 are attached movably to said plate holding
device 4 so that the body part 5 of the shaping means 6 can be slid along
the body part 5 of the plate holding device 4. This enables the location
of the press element 7 to be controllable with respect to said holding
[0041] The implant holding device 4 also comprises a handle 13 at the
second end of the body part 12. An operator may control the location or
distance of the press element 7 and the holding means 14 by moving the
handles 11, 13 with respect to each other.
[0042] The body part 5 of the shaping instrument 3 as well as the body
part 8 of the shaping means may be manufactured from any suitable metal,
for example stainless steel, or plastic, like polyolefin, or a plastic
[0043] It should be noted that, instead of plates, also other type of
surgical implants may be shaped with the instrument according to the
[0044] FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of a detail of the surgical
system illustrated in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is another schematic perspective
view of a detail of the surgical system illustrated in FIG. 1.
[0045] The press element 7 has a flexible pillow-like structure. The
manufacturing material of the press element 7 is a cross-linked silicon
rubber. The press element 7 may also be made of another type of
elastomeric material, a plastic, or plastic composite acceptable to a
surgical use. The manufacturing material may be foamed or non-foamed. The
stiffness and other physical characteristics of the press element 7 have
been selected according to the requirements of the operation and the
implant to be used.
[0046] The press element 7 is arranged demountably around the body part 12
of the implant holding device and also fastened demountably to the body
part 8 of the shaping means. The press element 7 has an interstice or
opening 15 extending from an outer surface of the element to an inner
surface facing the holding device's body part 12. Said interstice or
opening 15 enables the operator to remove the press element 7 from the
shaping means 6, or vice versa, to accommodate the press element 7 to the
shaping means 6.
[0047] FIG. 3 shows a situation where the press element 7 is removed from
the shaping means 6. The body part 8 of the shaping means includes two
fastening spikes 16. The fastening spikes 16 are pushed into the press
element 7 fitted in its place as shown in FIG. 2. In this way, the press
element 7 can be firmly fastened to the body part 8 of the shaping means,
but, if necessary, it can also be easily demounted from the body part 8.
[0048] According to one embodiment of the invention, the press element 7
is disposable, i.e. when it has been used in an operation it is not
sterilized but disposed of.
[0049] FIG. 4a is a schematic view of a step of a method according to the
invention, FIG. 4b is a schematic view of another step of the method
illustrated in FIG. 4a, FIG. 4c is a schematic view of still another step
of the method illustrated in FIG. 4a, and FIG. 4d is a schematic view of
still another step of the method illustrated in FIG. 4a. The surgical
system shown in FIGS. 4a to 4d is similar to that shown in FIGS. 1 to 3.
[0050] In the step shown in FIG. 4a, an implant is attached to holding
means 14 of an implant holding device 4. In the embodiment shown in FIGS.
4a to 4d, the implant is a fixation plate 2 to be fastened to an anterior
column of a vertebra for correction of spinal deformity and/or for fusion
of said vertebra.
[0051] First, a pin 21 of the holding means 14 is inserted into a borehole
18 arranged in the midpoint of the plate 2. The pin 21 fits into the
borehole 18 tight by enough so that the plate 2 does not tall off the
holding means 14 but, on the other hand, so that the holding means 14 can
be detached form the plate 2 without damaging the plate 2. Generally
speaking, the fitting between the holding means 14 and the plate can be
arranged, for example, by an interference fit or a friction fit. The
diameter of the pin 21 is constant all over its length. It is also
possible that the diameter of the pin 21 expands towards its end. It is
also possible that the pin 21 comprises a screw thread; the plate can
also comprise a thread that fits into said thread.
[0052] In the step shown in FIG. 4b, the plate 2 attached to the holding
means 14 is put in a heating device 22. The heating device 22 shown in
FIG. 4b is a water bath containing heated water. The plate 2 is made of a
plastic material malleable at an elevated temperature but rigid at body
temperature. Said material may have a biostable character, or it can be a
material that dissolves in the body. As the plate 2 is dipped in the
water bath whose temperature is above body temperature, its temperature
begins to rise. When the plate temperature has reached a region where its
material is malleable, the plate 2 is removed away from the heating
device 22 the plate 2 still being attached to the holding means 14.
[0053] The temperature region can be, for example, 50.degree. C. to
100.degree. C. Preferably, the temperature is 50.degree. C. to 60.degree.
C. for plates made of polylactide-co-trimethylene carbonate, 60.degree.
C. to 70.degree. C. for plates made of poly(L-lactide-co-D-lactide) and
70.degree. C. to 90.degree. C. for plates made of poly(L-lactide).
[0054] Naturally, the heating device can also be another kind of device
suitable for heating the plate or another implant to a temperature
[0055] It is possible that the implant shaping instrument 3 is not
inserted in to the implant holding device 4 when the plate 2 is heated in
the heating device 22 but only after said heating has taken place.
[0056] In the step shown in FIG. 4c, the plate 2 is arranged on a bony
tissue 20 to which it is to be fastened. In this step, the temperature of
the plate 2 is still in the region where its material is malleable. In
other words, the plate 2 and the instrument 3 are moved quickly enough
from the heating device 22 to the operation site for the temperature of
the plate 2 not to drop below the malleable region. The time available
for said movement depends on the material and size of the implant, the
temperature at which the plate 2 is heated, the dimensions and shape of
the plate 2, etc. The faster the plate 2 is moved from the heating device
22 to the operation site, the more time operators have to shape the
[0057] Still in a malleable state, the plate is bent into conformance with
an underlying bony tissue 20. This is carried out by pushing the press
element 7 with the help of the handle 11 of the shaping instrument
against the plate 2 or its upper surface 23. The pressure caused by the
press element 7 forces the plate 2 to press against the underlying bony
tissue 20 and to adapt the shape of surface of said tissue 20. Dashed
lines in FIG. 4c denote the position and shape of the press element and
the plate 2. It should be noted that the bone tissue against which the
plate is pressed may also be a bone graft, i.e. a new bony tissue placed
into or around broken bone and taken from the patient's own healthy bony
tissue or from frozen, donated bony tissue.
[0058] Because of the flexible structure of the press element 7, the plate
is pressed against the bony tissue 20 substantially in its entirety and
the plate shapes into conformance with the bony tissue 20.
[0059] The press element 7 is pressed against the plate 2 until the
temperature of the plate material is dropped below the region where the
material is malleable, i.e. until the plate material is rigid again. The
duration of such a temperature transition varies depending on the
temperature at which the plate 2 is heated, material characteristics of
the plate material, dimensions and shape of the plate 2, heat transfer
rate of the press element 7, etc.
[0060] In the step shown in FIG. 4d the plate is rigid again because of
its temperature has dropped under the temperature region where the
material of the plate is malleable. The plate 2 has substantially
precisely adapted the shape of the surface of the underlying bony tissue
20 and the press element 7 is lifted off the plate 2. This can be carried
out by lifting the handle 11 of the shaping means and sliding the body
part 5 of the shaping instrument upwards along the body part 12 of the
implant holding device. The shaping means 6 may be detached from the
implant holding device, or alternatively, the shaping means 6 may just be
lifted off the plate 2, keeping the body parts 5, 12 of the shaping
instrument and the holding device together. Nevertheless, the implant
holding device 4 and the plate 2 are kept in place in contact with the
underlying bony tissue 20.
[0061] In subsequent steps of the fastening operation, fixation holes are
drilled and optionally tapped in the underlying bony tissue 20, and
fasteners securing the plate 2 to the bony tissue 20 are inserted into
the through-bores and said fixation holes. All above-mentioned subsequent
steps are preferably carried out when the plate 2 is still kept in place
with the implant holding device 4. The plate 2 is detached from the
implant holding device 4 only after it has fastened to the tissue 20.
[0062] Said fasteners can be, for example, screws or rivet-type fasteners
or some other type of fasteners known per se. Said subsequent steps are
commonly known per se; therefore, they are not described in detail
herein. The plate may also be fastened to the tissue 20 with a bone glue.
[0063] It should be noted here that the implant may also be made of
materials being malleable at body temperature (37.degree. C.) or even at
room temperature (20.degree. C.). It is also possible that the implant
material comprises a plasticizer that is adapted to substantially reduce
the rigidity of the implant and that substantially exits from the implant
after coming into contact with tissue fluids of the organ system in such
a manner that the bending resistance of the implant prior to the
insertion of the implant into the organ system is substantially lower
than after its insertion into the organ system. This kind of materials
are disclosed in a co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No.
10/006,796, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entireties
[0064] FIG. 5 is a schematic side view of a plate of a second surgical
system according to the invention. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, a
lower surface 24 of a plate 2' has a curved shape. The radius of the
lower surface 24 is denoted with R1. The surface of an underlying bony
tissue 20' also has a curved shape, the radius thereof being denoted with
R2. R1 is shorter than R2, which is contrary to the situation shown in
FIG. 4c. Also in the situation shown in FIG. 5 an implant shaping
instrument according to the invention is capable of shaping the plate 2'
into conformance with the underlying body tissue 20'.
[0065] It should be noted here that instead of a plate 2, the implant of
the surgical system according to the invention may also be some other
type of implant that needs to be shaped into conformation with a tissue.
Such an implant may be, for example, a panel, a mesh, or a sheet.
[0066] FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view of a third surgical system
according to the invention, and FIG. 7 is a schematic perspective view of
a detail of the surgical system illustrated in FIG. 6.
[0067] A surgical system 1 comprises an implant shaping instrument 3 and
an implant holding device 4, which are detached from each other in FIG.
1, and in turn, arranged in to each other in FIG. 7.
[0068] A body part 5 of the implant shaping instrument 3 has an elongated,
round shape. One side of the body part 5 of the implant shaping
instrument 3 is provided with a deep longitudinal first groove or a
channel 25. The first groove 25 also extends through a handle 11 of the
implant shaping instrument and a body part 8 of shaping means 6.
[0069] The body part 12 of the implant holding device 4 also has an
elongated, round shape. Longitudinal second grooves 26 are provided in an
upper section of the body part 12 of the implant holding device.
[0070] The first groove 25 is dimensioned so that the body part 5 of the
shaping instrument can be attached to or detached from the body part 5 of
the implant holding device only if the first groove 25 and the second
grooves 26 are positioned against each other. The shaping instrument 3
can be slid on the body part 5 of the implant holding device such that a
position of the shaping means 6 can vary with respect to holding means 14
of the implant holding device.
[0071] According to another embodiment of the surgical implant shaping
instrument of the invention, the body part 5 of the instrument includes
an interlocking part made of an elastic material, such as plastic. Said
interlocking part is shaped such that it is elastically deformed during
assembly and disassembly of the body part 5 and the body part 12 of the
implant holding device, and interferes with a cooperation portion on the
body part 12 of the implant holding device to resist separation.
[0072] The shaping means 6 comprise a body part 8 and a press element 7
arranged thereto. The press element 7 comprises spring elements 27. In
the embodiment shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 two spring elements 27 are
provided. A spring element 27 is made of flexible, preferably elastically
flexible, metal, plastic or plastic composite. The spring element 27 has
two ends that have been bent downwards to make two contact surfaces 28.
The contact surfaces 28 press against an implant to be shaped into
conformance with a bony tissue.
[0073] There is a total of four contact surfaces 28 in the shaping means 6
shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. The shape and number of spring elements in FIGS.
6 and 7 are only intended to illustrate one embodiment of the shaping
means 6, and, naturally, the spring elements can be provided in different
shapes and their number may vary.
[0074] The whole shaping element 3 may be disposable or non-disposable. In
one embodiment of the invention, the body part 5 of the shaping element
is non-disposable but the spring elements 27 are disposable.
[0075] FIG. 8 is a schematic side view of a detail of a fourth surgical
system according to the invention. Shaping means 6 comprise a body part 8
and a contact surface plate 29. The contact surface plate 29 is made of
an elastic material, for instance plastic or metal. A body part 12 of an
implant holding device goes through the body part 8 and the contact
surface plate 29.
[0076] Between the contact surface plate 29 and the body part 8, several
spring elements 27' are arranged. When the contact surface plate 29 is
pushed against an underlying surface, spring elements 27' allow the
contact surface plate 29 to shape into conformance with said surface. The
contact surface plate 29 is adapted to press an implant attached to
holding means 14 into conformance with a bony surface as discussed above.
[0077] FIG. 9 is a schematic side view of a detail of a fifth surgical
system according to the invention. An implant shaping instrument 3 is
provided for shaping an implant of a plate type. The shaping instrument 3
includes a body part 5 and holding means 14 arranged to a first end of
said body part 5. The holding means 14 comprise a plurality of support
arms 30 made of an elastic material. The support arms are arranged and
dimensioned so that the plate 2 is pinched between them. As the plate 2
is pressed against an underlying bony tissue, the elastic support arms 30
force the plate 2 to confirm with said tissue.
[0078] The drawings and the related description are only intended to
illustrate the inventive concept. The details of the invention may vary
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