Bone fixation system

• US 20070123883A1
• Filed: 06/16/2006
• Published: 05/31/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Joel Gillard, Thomas Ellis
• Original Assignee: Joel Gillard, Thomas Ellis
• Inventors: Gillard, Joel, Ellis, Thomas
• Granted Patent: US 7,695,501 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/326
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8076 for the ribs or the sternum
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 606/904 Jaw plate
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 606/905 Rib or sternum plate

Abstract

Systems, including methods, apparatus, and kits, for fixing bones, such as rib bones, with bone plates.

Claims

1. A device for fixing a rib bone, comprising:

a bone plate including a spanning portion and an exclusively unilateral arrangement of hook portions each configured to be hooked onto a rib bone and connected to the spanning portion in a spaced relation along the spanning portion when the bone plate is installed on a rib bone with the spanning portion disposed adjacent an outward surface of the rib bone, such that the hook portions collectively extend superiorly over the rib bone or inferiorly under the rib bone, but not both, to positions adjacent an opposing inward surface of the rib bone.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the bone plate has exactly two hook portions.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein each hook portion is generally U-shaped.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein each hook portion defines one or more apertures for receiving a fastener that secures the bone plate to the rib bone.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the hook portions and the spanning portion are each part of the same monolithic structure.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the bone plate includes at least two components, and wherein at least two of the hook portions are disposed on distinct components.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein at least one of the hook portions is configured to be connected to the spanning portion via a fastener disposed in the rib bone.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein each hook portion includ es a pair of opposing arms having a spacing, and wherein the spacing is predefined to correspond to a thickness of a human rib bone.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the bone plate includes an integral connector for securing the bone plate to the rib bone.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the spanning portion defines a spanning axis and has a width measured transverse to the spanning axis, wherein each hook portion has a width measured parallel to the spanning axis, and wherein the width of at least one of the hook portions is at least about as great as the width of the spanning portion.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the bone plate is formed of a bioresorbable material.

12. A method of fixing a rib bone, comprising:

selecting a rib bone;

selecting a bone plate having a spanning portion and a plurality of hook portions;

placing the spanning portion adjacent an outward surface of the rib bone and every hook portion of the bone plate onto the rib bone from the same side of the rib bone; and

securing the bone plate to the rib bone such that the plurality of hook portions are connected to the spanning portion and arranged in a spaced relation along the spanning portion.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of selecting a bone plate includes a step of selecting a bone plate for which the hook portions are manufactured to fit onto the rib bone.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of selecting a bone plate includes a step of selecting a bone plate from a set of bone plates having hook portions sized for rib bones of different thickness.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising a step of measuring a thickness of the rib bone, wherein the step of selecting a bone plate is performed based on the step of measuring.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the step of securing is performed by placing a fastener through the rib bone, further comprising a step of selecting a fastener from a set of fasteners of different length according to the step of measuring.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of placing includes a step of moving each hook portion into engagement with the rib bone from a superior side of the rib bone.

18. A kit for fixing rib bones, comprising:

a plurality of bone plates configured for rib fixation, each bone plate having at least one pre-formed hook portion, the hook portions of at least two of the bone plates being sized in correspondence with rib bones of different thickness.

19. The kit of claim 18, further comprising a plurality of fasteners for securing the bone plates to the rib bones, at least two of the fasteners having different lengths that correspond to sizes of hook portions of the at least two bone plates.

20. The kit of claim 18, wherein each bone plate includes a spanning portion and at least a pair of hook portions, wherein the hook portions are configured to be disposed in a spaced relation along the spanning portion when the bone plate is installed on a rib bone.