System and method of length preservation during bone repair

Abstract

In various embodiments, an implant for interfacing with a bone structure includes a web structure including a space truss. The space truss includes two or more planar truss units having a plurality of struts joined at nodes and the web structure is configured to interface with human bone tissue. In some embodiments, a method is provided that includes accessing an intersomatic space and inserting an implant into the intersomatic space. The implant includes a web structure including a space truss. The space truss includes two or more planar truss units having a plurality of struts joined at nodes and the web structure is configured to interface with human bone tissue.

1 - 56 . (canceled) 
     
     
         57 . An implant comprising:
 an external truss structure that includes a plurality of planar trusses, each planar truss comprising a plurality of struts connected to a plurality of nodes, wherein the external truss structure defines at least a side surface, a top surface, and a bottom surface of the implant;   an internal web structure enclosed by the external truss structure;   wherein the internal web structure comprises:
 a plurality of polar struts, wherein each of the polar struts of the internal web structure extends from a node of the external truss structure defining the bottom surface of the implant to a node of the external truss structure defining the top surface of the implant, and wherein each of the plurality of polar struts is substantially perpendicular to the bottom surface of the implant and substantially perpendicular to the top surface of the implant; 
   wherein the external truss structure comprises a plurality of connecting struts, coupling ends of the polar struts to each other or connecting an end of a polar strut to a node of the exterior truss structure,   wherein at least two of the polar struts have different lengths.   
     
     
         58 . The implant of  claim 57 , wherein the exterior truss structure comprises a plurality of planar triangular truss units having three substantially straight struts connected at three nodes in a triangular configuration. 
     
     
         59 . The implant of  claim 58 , wherein the planar triangular truss units are coupled to one another such that one or more planar triangular truss units lie in a plane that is not substantially parallel to a plane of a planar truss unit that shares at least one strut with an adjacent planar triangular truss unit. 
     
     
         60 . The implant of  claim 57 , wherein at least some of the plurality of connecting struts define a side of one or more triangular trusses, each of the defined triangular trusses having at least one node at an end of at least one of the polar struts. 
     
     
         61 . The implant of  claim 57 , wherein one or more of the connecting struts are substantially curved such that the top surface and/or the bottom surface are/is a substantially rounded surface. 
     
     
         62 . A method of length preservation in a separated bone comprising:
 forming a contact surface on a first side of the separated bone;   forming a contact surface on a second side of the separated bone;   placing an implant in contact with the first and second contact surfaces of the separated bone; wherein the implant comprises:
 an external truss structure that includes a plurality of planar trusses, each planar truss comprising a plurality of struts connected to a plurality of nodes, wherein the external truss structure defines at least a side surface, a top surface, and a bottom surface of the implant; 
 an internal web structure enclosed by the external truss structure; 
 wherein the internal web structure comprises:
 a plurality of polar struts, wherein each of the polar struts of the internal web structure extends from a node of the external truss structure defining the bottom surface of the implant to a node of the external truss structure defining the top surface of the implant, and wherein each of the plurality of polar struts is substantially perpendicular to the bottom surface of the implant and substantially perpendicular to the top surface of the implant; 
 
 wherein the external truss structure comprises a plurality of connecting struts, coupling ends of the polar struts to each other or connecting an end of a polar strut to a node of the exterior truss structure, wherein the connecting struts partially define the top and bottom surface of the implant, 
 wherein at least two of the polar struts have different lengths such that the top surface of the implant and/or the bottom surface of the implant is/are non-planar. 
   
     
     
         63 . The method of  claim 62 , wherein the exterior truss structure comprises a plurality of planar triangular truss units having three substantially straight struts connected at three nodes in a triangular configuration. 
     
     
         64 . The method of  claim 63 , wherein the planar triangular truss units are coupled to one another such that one or more planar triangular truss units lie in a plane that is not substantially parallel to a plane of a planar truss unit that shares at least one strut with an adjacent planar triangular truss unit. 
     
     
         65 . The method of  claim 62 , wherein at least some of the plurality of connecting struts define a side of one or more triangular trusses, each of the defined triangular trusses having at least one node at an end of at least one of the polar struts. 
     
     
         66 . The method of  claim 62 , wherein one or more of the connecting struts are substantially curved such that the top surface and/or the bottom surface are/is a substantially rounded surface.