Bone plates with intraoperatively tapped apertures

• US 20040260291A1
• Filed: 06/21/2004
• Published: 12/23/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Acumed Llc (Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Acumed Llc (Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated)
• Inventors: Jensen, David G.
• Granted Patent: US 7,537,596 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/915
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1655 for tapping
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1728 for holes for bone plates or plate screws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8057 the interlocking form comprising a thread
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8863 Apparatus for shaping or cutting osteosynthesis equipment by medical personnel

Abstract

Systems, including apparatus, methods, and kits, for selectively tapping apertures of bone plates, to form threaded apertures during installation of the bone plates (i.e., intraoperatively).

Claims

1. A method of tapping a bone plate intraoperatively, comprising:

selecting a bone plate having an aperture;

placing the bone plate on a bone; and

forming a thread in the aperture with the bone plate disposed on the bone.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of placing includes a step of attaching the bone plate to the bone.

3. The method of claim 2, the aperture being a first aperture, wherein the step of attaching includes a step of inserting a fastener through a second aperture and into the bone.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of forming also forms a thread in the bone.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising a step of forming a hole in the bone, the hole being in alignment with the aperture.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the step of forming a hole is performed at least substantially before the step of forming a thread.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the step of forming a thread is performed with a tap device having a tap portion and a tip portion, and wherein the step of forming a thread includes a step of inserting the tip portion into the hole so that the tap portion is guided to the aperture.

8. The method of claim 5, further comprising a step of widening the hole adjacent the aperture to create a counterbore in the bone, wherein the step of widening is performed at least partially during the step of forming a thread.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising a step of selecting an angle for the step of forming a thread.

10. The method of claim 9, Wherein the step of selecting an angle includes a step of disposing a guide device at least substantially at the angle.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the step of selecting an angle includes a step of drilling a hole in the bone at least substantially at the angle.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising a step of placing a fastener through the aperture and into the bone after the step of forming a thread in the aperture.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of forming a thread is performed using a tap device, the method further comprising a step of removing the tap device from the aperture after the step of forming a thread so that the aperture is accessible to the fastener.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of selecting a bone plate includes selecting a bone plate formed at least substantially of metal.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the step of selecting a bone plate includes selecting a bone plate formed at least substantially of titanium.

16. A method of fixing a bone, comprising:

selecting a bone plate having a plurality of apertures;

securing the bone plate to the bone with at least one first fastener placed into the bone from at least one first aperture of the bone plate;

forming a thread in a second aperture of the bone plate after the step of securing; and

placing a second fastener through the second aperture, into bone, and into threaded engagement with the thread.

17. A device for tapping a bone plate intraoperatively, comprising:

a tap portion configured to form a thread in an aperture of a bone plate connected to a bone as the tap portion is rotated; and

a tip portion attached to the tap portion and configured to follow a hole in the bone to guide the tap portion to the aperture.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein the tip portion also is configured to form the hole in the bone.

19. The device of claim 17, wherein the tip portion is longer than the tap portion.

20. The device of claim 17, further comprising a reamer portion disposed between the tap portion and the tip portion, the reamer portion being configured to widen the hole in the bone.

21. The device of claim 17, wherein the tap portion tapers toward to the tip portion so that the thread formed by the tap portion varies in depth.

22. The device of claim 17, wherein the tip portion is at least substantially nonthreaded.

23. The device of claim 17, further comprising shaft attached to the tap portion and opposing the tip portion.

24. A kit for tapping a bone plate, comprising:

a bone plate having an aperture; and

a tap device configured to form a thread in the aperture.

25. The kit of claim 24, further comprising a plurality of bone screws, at least one of the bone screws being configured to be received in the aperture, in threaded engagement with the thread.

26. The kit of claim 25, the bone plate having a thickness, wherein the one or more bone screws include a threaded head region, and wherein the threaded head region has an axial length that is substantially greater than the thickness of the bone plate.