Bone plates with movable locking elements

• US 20070055251A1
• Filed: 07/13/2006
• Published: 03/08/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Acumed Llc (Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Acumed Llc (Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated)
• Inventors: Jensen, David, Huebner, Randall
• Granted Patent: US 7,857,836 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/279
• 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 17/8047 wherein the additional element surrounds the screw head in the plate hole A61B17/8052 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8052 immobilised relative to screws by interlocking form of the heads and plate holes, e.g. conical or threaded

Abstract

System, including methods, apparatus, and kits, for fixing bones with bone plates having movable locking elements.

Claims

1. A bone plate for bone fixation, comprising:

a plate body defining a plurality of openings for receiving fasteners that secure the plate body to bone, the plurality of openings including an oblong opening defining a long axis; and

a locking element configured to be disposed in threaded engagement with a fastener extending at least from the oblong opening, then through the locking element and into bone, the locking element being connected slidably to the plate body, in the absence of the fastener, for movement at least substantially parallel to the long axis.

2. The bone plate of claim 1, wherein the plate body includes an inner face defining a cavity that at least partially receives the locking element, and wherein the plate body supports the locking element in the cavity when the inner face is facing downward.

3. The bone plate of claim 1, wherein the locking element includes at least one hook portion, and wherein the locking element is connected to the plate body using the at least one hook portion.

4. The bone plate of claim 3, wherein the locking element includes a bent metal sheet.

5. The bone plate of claim 1, wherein the locking element defines a through-hole with an internal thread.

6. A system for bone fixation, comprising:

a plate body defining a plurality of openings for receiving fasteners that secure the plate body to bone; and

a locking element for receiving a fastener that locks to the locking element while extending through an opening of the plate body and into bone, the locking element being disposed inward of the opening and being connected movably to the plate body in the absence of the fastener.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the opening is oblong and defines a long axis, and wherein the locking element is slidable at least substantially parallel to the long axis.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the opening includes a sloped countersink surface.

9. The system of claim 6, the locking element being a first locking element, further comprising one or more additional locking elements that form a set of locking elements collectively with the first locking element, wherein the set of locking elements is connected to the plate body, and wherein each locking element is movable individually.

10. The system of claim 6, wherein the plate body defines a long axis and a length measured parallel to the long axis, and wherein the locking element is capable of sliding motion at least substantially parallel to the long axis, with a range of motion restricted to only a subset of the length.

11. The system of claim 6, wherein the plate body includes an inner face defining a cavity that at least partially receives the locking element, and wherein the plate body supports the locking element in the cavity when the inner face is facing downward.

12. The system of claim 6, wherein the locking element is hooked to the plate body.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the locking element is formed of a bent sheet of metal.

14. The system of claim 6, wherein the locking element defines a through-hole with an internal thread.

15. The system of claim 6, wherein the plate body has an outer face, and wherein the locking element is configured such that at least a portion of the locking element moves closer to the outer face as the fastener is tightened fully against the plate body.

16. The system of claim 6, further comprising a bone screw for placement through the opening of the plate body, into threaded engagement with the locking element, and into bone.

17. A method of bone fixation, comprising:

connecting a plate body of a bone plate to a first portion of bone;

placing a fastener into a second portion of bone from an oblong opening of the plate body and through a locking element disposed between the oblong opening and the second portion of bone, such that the fastener connects the bone plate to the second portion of bone and is locked to the locking element; and

moving the fastener, the locking element, and the second portion of bone collectively relative to the plate body and the first portion of bone, to urge the first and second portions of bone toward one another while the fastener remains locked to the locking element.

18. The method of claim 17, the fastener being a bone screw having a head, the plate body including a sloped countersink surface extending generally along the oblong opening, wherein the step of moving includes a step of turning the bone screw such that the head of the fastener travels along the sloped countersink surface.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising a step of selecting a bone plate including the plate body connected to the locking element in the absence of the fastener, wherein the steps of connecting, placing, and moving are performed with the bone plate after the step of selecting.

20. The method of claim 17, the first and second portions of bone being arranged longitudinally along a bone, wherein the step of moving includes a step of urging the first and second portions toward one another longitudinally in relation to the bone.