Systems and methods for using polyaxial plates

• US 10,092,337 B2
• Filed: 09/18/2017
• Issued: 10/09/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Smith & Nephew Incorporated (Smith & Nephew PLC)
• Original Assignee: Smith & Nephew Incorporated (Smith & Nephew PLC)
• Inventors: Austin, Gene Edward, Harmon, Jon A., Petteys, Timothy J., Russell, Thomas A., Tornetta, Paul, Ricci, William M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Yang, Andrew
• Application Number:
  US15/706,877
• Publication Number:
  US 20180000528A1
• Time in Patent Office: 386 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/74 Devices for the head or neck or trochanter of the femur trochanteric devices connected to the proximal part of an endoprosthetic femoral shaft A61F2/30739; endoprosthetic internal fixation devices for the head or neck of the femur A61F2/3601
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8033 having indirect contact with screw heads, or having contact with screw heads maintained with the aid of additional components, e.g. nuts, wedges or head covers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8052 immobilised relative to screws by interlocking form of the heads and plate holes, e.g. conical or threaded
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8057 the interlocking form comprising a thread
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8061 specially adapted for particular bones A61B17/70 and A61B17/74 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8085 with pliable or malleable elements or having a mesh-like structure, e.g. small strips A61B17/8071, A61B17/8076 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8605 Heads, i.e. proximal ends projecting from bone
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/863 with thread interrupted or changing its form along shank, other than constant taper
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00004 (bio)absorbable, (bio)resorbable, resorptive for implantable prostheses A61F2210/0004

Abstract

Certain embodiments of the invention provide plates for treating periarticular fractures or other non-full body weight bearing applications that combine polyaxial fixation with a low profile and enhanced contouring that more closely conforms to bone. Such plates can be designed to achieve buttressing effect and/or to be used in a reinforcement mode. Other features can be combined with these. Such plates can be created for use on bone sites such as on a tibia, fibula, metatarsal, calcaneous, other foot bone, humerus, radius, ulna, spinal, maxillofacial, as well as sites on other bones.

Claims

1. A bone plate comprising:

a lower surface;

an upper surface;

one or more apertures extending from the lower surface to the upper surface, each of the one or more apertures including a central axis; and

at least one of the one or more apertures including a plurality of concavely indented, inwardly protruding fins defining a non-threaded opening for cooperating with a head of a bone fastener.

2. The bone plate of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of fins defining the non-threaded opening is capable of engaging the head of the bone fastener for securing the head of the fastener to the bone plate at an oblique angle with respect to the central axis of the aperture.

3. The bone plate of claim 2, wherein the plurality of fins defining the non-threaded opening are capable of engaging one or more threads formed on the head of the bone fastener.

4. The bone plate of claim 2, wherein each fin of the plurality of concavely indented, inwardly protruding fins defining the non-threaded opening is capable of at least one of bending, deflecting, or deforming in order to secure the bone fastener to the bone plate.

5. The bone plate of claim 1, wherein each of the apertures include an inner surface, and each of the plurality of fins defining the non-threaded opening include a tapered surface extending from the inner surface of the aperture to the central axis.

6. The bone plate of claim 1, wherein each of the fins of the plurality of concavely indented, inwardly protruding fins defining the non-threaded opening include a rounded tip.

7. The bone plate of claim 1, wherein each of the apertures include an inner surface, and each of the plurality of fins defining the non-threaded opening include a concave portion adjacent to the inner surface of the aperture.

8. The bone plate of claim 1, wherein each of the apertures include an inner surface, and each of the plurality of fins defining the non-threaded opening include a base at the intersection of the inner surface of the aperture and the fin, each fin being downwardly angled towards the central axis.

9. The bone plate of claim 1, wherein each of the fins of the plurality of concavely indented, inwardly protruding fins defining the non-threaded opening is flexible.

10. The bone plate of claim 1, wherein each of the fins of the plurality of concavely indented, inwardly protruding fins has a thickness of between 0.5 mm to 5 mm for receipt between threads formed on the head of the bone fastener.

11. The bone plate of claim 1, wherein each aperture includes between five to eight fins.

12. The bone plate of claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more apertures includes a central axis that is oblique with respect to the upper surface of the bone plate.

13. A method of implanting a bone plate to a bone, the method comprising:

accessing a surgical site of interest;

positioning a bone plate at the surgical site of interest; and

inserting a fastener through the opening formed in the bone plate along an insertion angle;

wherein the opening includes a plurality of concavely indented, inwardly protruding fins defining a non-threaded opening for engaging a head of the fastener.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising temporarily securing the bone plate to the bone using one or more provisional fixation pins.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising identifying a preferred insertion angle for inserting a fastener through a selected opening formed in the bone plate.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the insertion angle is at an oblique angle with respect to a central axis of the opening formed in the bone plate.