Volar fixation plate

• US 20030153918A1
• Filed: 02/14/2002
• Published: 08/14/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Regents of The University of Minnesota (University of Minnesota)
• Original Assignee: Regents of The University of Minnesota (University of Minnesota)
• Inventors: Jennings, Charles D., Gesensway, David, Putnam, Matthew D.
• Application Number:
  US10/073,942
• Publication Number:
  US 20030153918A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/69
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1728 for holes for bone plates or plate screws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1782 for the hand or wrist
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/68 Internal fixation devices , including fasteners and spinal fixators, even if a part thereof projects from the skin bone staples A61B17/0642
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/683 comprising bone transfixation elements, e.g. bolt with a distal cooperating element such as a nut
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/80 Cortical plates , i.e. bone plates; Instruments for holding or positioning cortical plates, or for compressing bones attached to cortical plates
• 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 17/8061 specially adapted for particular bones A61B17/70 and A61B17/74 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/809 with bone-penetrating elements, e.g. blades or prongs bone staples A61B17/0642; intramedullary nails with a plate at an end A61B17/7233
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/842 Flexible wires, bands or straps A61B17/72, A61B17/82, A61B17/86 take precedence

Abstract

A fixation plate kit for fixation of a distal radius facture includes an elongated plate and at least one tensioning device. The elongated plate is configured to be mounted to the volar surface of the distal radius and includes a distal portion and a proximal portion. The distal portion extends from and forms an angle with the proximal portion and includes at least one tine extending from the distal portion. The tensioning device is configured to pass through an opening in the elongated plate, through a channel in the radius, and to be tightenable to fix the elongated plate to the radius.

Claims

1. A fixation plate kit for fixation of a distal radius facture, the fixation plate kit comprising:

an elongated plate configured to be mounted to the volar surface of the distal radius and having a distal portion and a proximal portion, the distal portion extending from and forming an angle with the proximal portion, and including at least one tine extending from the distal portion; and

at least one tensioning device configured to pass through an opening in the elongated plate, through a channel in the radius, and to be tightenable to fix the elongated plate to the radius.

2. The fixation plate kit of claim 1 wherein the distal portion includes at least one opening configured to receive the tensioning device.

3. The fixation plate kit of claim 1 wherein the proximal portion includes at least one opening configured to receive the tensioning device.

4. The fixation plate kit of claim 1 wherein the proximal portion is narrower than the distal portion.

5. The fixation plate kit of claim 1 wherein the proximal portion has a width and includes a curved shape across the width and the width is configured to generally follow the curvature of the volar surface of the radius, whereby the proximal portion can be stably seated against the volar surface of the radius when the elongated plate is mounted to the radius.

6. The fixation plate kit of claim 1 wherein the distal portion forms a generally T-shaped configuration with the proximal portion.

7. The fixation plate kit of claim 1 wherein the distal portion forms an angle with the proximal portion, whereby the proximal portion follows the volar configuration of the distal head of the radius.

8. The fixation plate kit of claim 7 wherein the angle between the distal portion and the proximal portion is between approximately 5°

and 45°

.

9. The fixation plate kit of claim 7 wherein the angle between the distal portion and the proximal portion is between approximately 10°

and 30°

.

10. The fixation plate kit of claim 7 wherein the angle between the distal portion and the proximal portion is between approximately 10°

and 20°

.

11. The fixation plate kit of claim 7 wherein the angle formed between the distal portion and the proximal portion includes a gradual transition.

12. The fixation plate kit of claim 1 wherein the tine extends from the distal portion at an angle with respect to the proximal portion of between approximately 75°

and 115°

.

13. The fixation plate kit of claim 1 wherein the tine extends from the distal portion at an angle with respect to the proximal portion of between approximately 85°

and 105°

.

14. The fixation plate kit of claim 1 wherein the tine extends from the distal portion at an angle with respect to the proximal portion of approximately 90°

.

15. The fixation plate kit of claim 1 wherein the kit further comprises a drill bit configured to drill a hole in bone tissue.

16. The fixation plate kit of claim 1 further comprising a guide for drilling holes in bone to place the tine.

17. The fixation plate kit of claim 1 wherein the guide includes at least one opening and an insert configured to be received in the opening.

18. The fixation plate kit of claim 1 further comprising written instructions for use.

19. The fixation plate kit of claim 1 further comprising an instructional video.

20. The fixation plate kit of claim 1 further comprising a tensiometer mounted to the tine and configured to measure a tension in the tine.

21. The fixation plate kit of claim 1 further comprising a monitor, wherein the tensiometer transmits a signal indicative of strain in the tine and the monitor is configured to receive the signal.

22. The fixation plate kit of claim 1 wherein the elongated plate includes a therapeutic agent.

23. The fixation plate kit of claim 22 wherein the therapeutic agent comprises one or both of a bone growth regulating protein and a platelet derived growth factor.

24. The fixation plate kit of claim 1 wherein the kit further comprises one or both of a screw driver and an allen wrench.

25. The fixation plate kit of claim 1 wherein the tine is integral with the elongated plate.

26. The fixation plate kit of claim 1 wherein the distal portion includes at least one opening and the tine is configured as an articulating member passing through the opening.

27. The fixation plate kit of claim 26 wherein the articulating member is configured to extend from the distal portion over multiple angles and orientations, and be inserted into a radius.

28. The fixation plate kit of claim 26 wherein the first opening includes an outwardly extending rounded surface and the articulating member includes a head having a concave articulating portion configured to articulate against the rounded surface.

29. The fixation plate kit of claim 28 wherein the articulating portion has an elongated shape.

30. The fixation plate kit of claim 28 wherein the articulating portion has a hemispherical shape.

31. The fixation plate kit of claim 1 wherein the tensioning device comprises a tie-band.

32. The fixation plate kit of claim 1 wherein the tensioning device comprises a molly bolt system.

33. The fixation plate kit of claim 1 wherein the tensioning device is configured to be under tension when mounted to the elongated plate.

34. A fixation plate for the fixation of a distal radius facture, the fixation plate comprising:

an elongated plate configured to be mounted to the volar surface of the distal radius and having a distal portion and a proximal portion, the distal portion extending from and forming an angle with the proximal portion, and including at least one opening;

at least one tine configured as an articulating member for passing through the opening; and

at least one tensioning device configured to pass through an opening in the distal and/or proximal portion, through a channel in the radius, and to be tightenable to fix the distal or proximal portion to the radius.

35. The fixation plate of claim 34 wherein the fixation plate is a component in a fixation plate kit comprising one or more of a drill bit configured to drill a hole in bone tissue, a guide for drilling holes in bone to place the tine, written instructions for use, an instructional video, a tensiometer mounted to the tine and configured to measure a tension in the tine, a monitor configured to receive a signal indicative of strain in the tine from the tensiometer, and a therapeutic agent.

36. The fixation plate of claim 34 wherein the articulating portion has an elongated shape.

37. The fixation plate of claim 34 wherein the articulating portion has a hemispherical shape.

38. A method of repairing a distal radius facture, the method comprising:

providing a fixation plate comprising an elongated plate configured to be mounted to the volar surface of the distal radius and having a distal portion and a proximal portion, the distal portion extending from and forming an angle with the proximal portion and one or more tines extending from the distal portion;

providing one or more tensioning devices configured to pass through one or more openings in the proximal portion and/or the distal portion, through a channel in the radius, and to be tightenable to fix the proximal portion to the radius;

forming one or more channels in the distal radius for receiving the one or more tines;

forming one or more channels in the radius for receiving the one or more tensioning devices;

placing the one or more tines in the one or more channels in the distal radius; and

placing the one or more tensioning devices in the one or more channels in the radius..

39. The method of claim 38 wherein the tine is integral with the fixation plate.

40. The method of claim 38 wherein the distal portion of the plate includes at least one opening and the tine is configured as an articulating member to pass through the opening, and placing the one or more tines in the one or more channels in the distal radius comprises passing the articulating member through the opening in the distal portion of the plate and into the channel.