Patents

Thettalos

Patent No

EP 1016381

Investigators

K.N Malizos
L.Ch Kourtis
H.Ch Kourtis

Description

Thettalos™ is a novel external fixation system, in order to offer maximum flexibility for pin placement within long-bone fractures offering 5 degrees of freedom, and thus cover the absence of an easily adjustable and installable external fixator.

Thettalos™ is a novel external fixation system, in order to offer maximum flexibility for pin placement within long-bone fractures offering 5 degrees of freedom, and thus cover the absence of an easily adjustable and installable external fixator.

In a typical configuration where 2 or 3 pins are placed on each side of the fracture and a bar is positioned parallel to the bone, the following translational and rotational adjustments can be achieved:

• Proximal axial movement of the clamp along the bar
• Proximal rotational movement of the clamp around the bar 
• Distal telescopic movement in and out
• Distal rotation of the telescope mechanism 
• Distal rotation of the pin holding mechanism

Using all these possible adjustments, the surgeon can showcasefully reach and hold a pin that is already placed in the bone. Therefore, there is no need for a template form to serve as a guide for pin placement prior to the external fixation system installation. The surgeon can easily avoid soft vulnerable tissues like nerves, arteries etc, by placing in a safer manner.

The innovative aspect is the notion of single pin holding for each clamp that connects a pin to the supporting bar through a versatile 5 degrees of freedom design. This simplifies the operation, rendering it easier, shorter and safer.

Main advantages include: 

• High degree of versatility and flexibility 
• Independent as well as safer pin placement avoiding nerves, arteries infected sites etc. 
• No need for template guide 
• Multiplanar fixation

U - Heal

Investigators

K.N Malizos
D. Fotiadis
H.Ch Kourtis
L.Ch Kourtis
N.K Malizos

Description

The present invention relates to a method and a system to therapeutically treat bone fractures, nonunions, deformities and also to monitor their healing process using ultrasound waves. The invention concerns one or more ultrasound transducers that are implanted in contact with the bone adjacent to the affected region, as well as an electronic unit that is either surgically implanted or located extracorporeally and operating altogether as a system, it enhances the healing process of bones and monitors the course of healing. The electronic unit a) generates appropriate signal that excite the transducers (that are in transmitter mode of operation) so that they emit ultrasound waves that are suitable for treating the bones, b) generates appropriate signal that excite the transducers (that are in transmitter mode of operation) so that they emit ultrasound waves, and subsequently acquires the signals that are generated by the transducers (that are in receiver mode of operation) during the reception of the propagating ultrasound waves, and c) is also capable of transmitting the acquired signals to a local or remote computing unit in order to store and analyze the signals so that the physician can evaluate bone healing.

Funding