Apparatus and methods for bone fracture reduction and fixation

• US 20060235407A1
• Filed: 05/24/2006
• Published: 10/19/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Board of Regents Nevada System of Higher Education (State of Nevada)
• Original Assignee: Board of Regents Nevada System of Higher Education (State of Nevada)
• Inventors: Trabia, Mohamed B., Wang, Robert C.
• Granted Patent: US 7,578,835 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/281
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/663 for jaw bones, e.g. subcutaneous distractors with external access periodontal bone regeneration A61C8/0006
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8019 where the means are a separate tool rather than being part of the plate
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8071 for the jaw
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/842 Flexible wires, bands or straps A61B17/72, A61B17/82, A61B17/86 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 606/902 Cortical plate specifically adapted for a particular bone

Abstract

Apparatus to facilitate reduction and fixation of a fracture by drawing together the fracture by applying tension to a reduction wire are disclosed. These apparatus include a bone plate for the fixation of a fractured bone having a plurality of fastener openings so that the bone plate may be secured by a plurality of fasteners across a reduced fracture to fixate a reduced fracture. The bone plate is configured with a channel that receives a reduction wire so that the reduction wire may extend between the bone plate and a reduction wire mount such as a bone screw. Methods of use of the present invention include fastening the bone plate to a first side of the fracture, fastening a reduction wire mount to a second side of the fracture, fastening a reduction wire to the reduction wire mount, receiving the reduction wire in the channel, applying tension to the reduction wire to draw the bone plate and the reduction wire mount together thereby reducing the fracture, and fixating the fracture by fastening the bone plate to the second side of the fracture.

Claims

1. An apparatus for the reduction and fixation of a fractured bone designed for use in cooperation with a reduction wire and configured for use in cooperation with a reduction wire mount, comprising:

a bone plate;

the bone plate defining a first surface, the first surface being distal to a bone surface and configured to be biased against the bone surface;

the bone plate defining a second surface, the second surface being proximal to the bone surface;

the bone plate including a plurality of fastener openings disposed between the first surface and the second surface so that the bone plate may be secured to the bone surface by a plurality of fasteners; and

,

the bone plate configured to include a channel, where the channel is configured to receive and slideably retain a reduction wire.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

an aperture passing between the first surface and the second surface, the aperture included within a boundary of the first surface and the aperture included within a boundary of the second surface.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

an aperture passing between the first surface and the second surface, the aperture included within a boundary of the first surface and the aperture included within a boundary of the second surface, the aperture being configured to receive a reduction wire mount.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a peripheral surface, the peripheral surface being configured to bias against a reduction wire mount.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a peripheral surface, the peripheral surface being configured to receive a reduction wire mount.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a peripheral surface, the peripheral surface being configured to have a gap between the peripheral surface and a reduction wire mount.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a peripheral surface, wherein a portion of the peripheral surface is configured as a channel, said channel having a first channel side, a second channel side, and a channel bottom.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising:

the channel configured to protect a bone surface from the reduction wire when the reduction wire is received by the reduction wire mount and the reduction wire is received by the channel.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

an apron configured to be received by a fastener and held by the fastener when the fastener is tightened to engage the apron.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a reduction wire mount; and

,

a reduction wire, the reduction wire received by the channel and the reduction wire received by the reduction wire mount.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one fastener opening configured as a compression opening, the compression opening oriented to increase reduction of a bone fracture as the fastener is tightened.

12. An apparatus for the reduction and fixation of a fractured bone designed for use in cooperation with a reduction wire and configured for use in cooperation with a reduction wire mount, comprising:

a first arm having a first end and a second end;

a second arm having a first end and a second end, the first end of the first arm secured to the first end of the second arm so as to form a bone plate having a “

V”

shaped structure;

the bone plate defining a first surface, the first surface being distal to a bone surface and configured to be biased against the bone surface;

the bone plate defining a second surface, the second surface being proximal to the bone surface;

the bone plate including a plurality of fastener openings disposed between the first surface and the second surface so that the bone plate may be secured to the bone surface by a plurality of fasteners; and

,

the bone plate configured to include a channel, where the channel is configured to receive and slideably retain a reduction wire.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising:

a peripheral surface, where the channel is configured in a portion of the peripheral surface.

14. A method of repairing a bone fracture, comprising:

fastening a bone plate configured with a channel to a first side of a fracture;

fastening a reduction wire mount to a second side of a fracture;

fastening a reduction wire to the reduction wire mount;

receiving the reduction wire in the channel;

applying tension to the reduction wire to reduce the fracture; and

,

fastening the bone plate to the second side of the fracture to fixate the fracture.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

fastening the bone plate to a first side of a fracture such that a second side of the fracture is compressed against a first side of the bone plate.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

inserting a fastener into a first side of a fracture;

receiving an apron by the fastener, the apron being appurtenant to a bone plate; and

,

tightening the fastener such that the fastener engages the apron to secure the bone plate to the first side of the fracture.