| abstract |
The present invention relates to providing apparatus for increasing a length span of a bone staple, said apparatus including first and second prongs, joined by a system which provides a mechanical advantage to selectably bringing said first and second prongs together and pushing them apart, n wherein said first prong further includes, at its distal end, a staple receptor, with a channel, for mounting said staple thereon, said channel defining an x-axis of an x;y;z coordinate system, parallel to said staple length span, and perpendicular to the direction of bringing first and second prongs together and pushing them apart, n wherein said second prong further includes, at its distal end, a thin, cam-like head, having a width span that increases in the direction of increasing y, operable to increase said staple length span, n and wherein, as said first and second prongs are brought together, by said system which provides a mechanical advantage, said thin, cam-like head is arranged to slide between said staple receptor and said staple, mounted thereon, in the direction of increasing y, so as to wedge between said staple receptor and said staple, and thus increase the length span of said staple. n Alternatively, said first and second prongs include, at their distal end, tips, arranged for mounting said staple thereon, when said prongs are brought together, n wherein, as said first and second prongs are pushed apart, by said system which provides a mechanical advantage, said tips pry said staple, mounted thereon, wider, thus increasing the length span of said staple. n Additionally, the present invention relates to providing a bone staple, formed of shape-memory alloy and apparatus associated therewith, n wherein said apparatus is arranged for deforming said staple to simultaneously facilitate its insertion into the bone and increase its length span to a desired value, n and wherein the applied deformation by said apparatus is maintained at an allowable range to insure that said staple will resume its austenitic shape upon transformation to the austenitic phase. |