Implant for securing neighbouring bone plates

• US 20070250059A1
• Filed: 02/05/2007
• Published: 10/25/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aesculap AG (Lonza Group AG)
• Original Assignee: Aesculap AG (Lonza Group AG)
• Inventors: Weisshaupt, Dieter, Steinhilper, Klaus-Dieter, Lerch, Karl-Dieter
• Granted Patent: US 8,403,929 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/60
• 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 17/688 for reattaching pieces of the skull
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/808 Instruments for holding or positioning bone plates, or for adjusting screw-to-plate locking mechanisms
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00004 (bio)absorbable, (bio)resorbable or resorptive
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0474 Knot pushers

Abstract

To provide an implant for securing neighbouring bone plates, especially neighbouring cranial bone plates, wherein the bone plates each have an inner face and an outer face, comprising an inner contact element that is adapted to rest on the inner faces of the neighbouring bone plates, an outer contact element that is adapted to rest on the outer faces of the neighbouring bone plates, and an in a linear manner flexible tensioning element for connecting the inner contact element and the outer contact element in such a manner that they can no longer be separated from one another, with improved properties, it is provided that the outer contact element comprises at least one recess for at least partially accommodating a connection region between free strands of the tensioning element or for feeding the connection region through into a separation gap between the neighbouring bone plates.

Claims

1. Implant for securing neighbouring bone plates, especially neighbouring cranial bone plates, wherein the bone plates each have an inner face and an outer face, comprising:

an inner contact element that is adapted to rest on the inner faces of the neighbouring bone plates;

an outer contact element that is adapted to rest on the outer faces of the neighbouring bone plates; and

an in a linear manner flexible tensioning element for connecting the inner contact element and the outer contact element in such a manner that they can no longer be separated from one another;

wherein the outer contact element comprises at least one recess for at least partially accommodating a connection region between free strands of the tensioning element or for feeding the connection region through into a separation gap between the neighbouring bone plates.

2. Implant in accordance with claim 1, wherein the at least one recess is formed in such a manner that the connection region is positionable at least partially below an outer surface of the outer contact element.

3. Implant in accordance with claim 1, wherein the connection region is formed by means of a knot.

4. Implant in accordance with claim 3, wherein the knot is in the form of a slip knot.

5. Implant in accordance with claim 1, wherein the connection region is formed by means of a prefabricated slip knot.

6. Implant in accordance with claim 1, wherein the free strands are those regions of the tensioning element which emanate from the outer contact element.

7. Implant in accordance with claim 1, wherein the at least one recess constitutes a through hole.

8. Implant in accordance with claim 1, wherein the at least one recess comprises a seating area for the connection region.

9. Implant in accordance with claim 8, wherein a base is associated with the at least one recess.

10. Implant in accordance with claim 1, wherein the inner contact element comprises at least two spaced feed-through recesses for the tensioning element.

11. Implant in accordance with claim 10, wherein the tensioning element rests on a surface of the inner contact element between the feed-through recesses.

12. Implant in accordance with claim 1, wherein the outer contact element comprises at least two spaced feed-through recesses for the tensioning element.

13. Implant in accordance with claim 12, wherein the at least one recess for the connection region is formed at a feed-through recess or forms a feed-through recess.

14. Implant in accordance with claim 1, wherein the tensioning element is guided on the inner contact element and the outer contact element in such a way that a pulley-block system is formed.

15. Implant in accordance with claim 1, wherein the inner contact element comprises a first pair of spaced feed-through recesses between which the tensioning element rests on the inner contact element in a first placement region, the inner contact element comprises a second pair of neighbouring feed-through recesses for the tensioning element between which the tensioning element rests on the inner contact element in a second placement region, the outer contact element comprises a first pair of neighbouring feed-through recesses for the tensioning element between which the tensioning element rests on the outer contact element in a third placement region, and the outer contact element comprises a second pair of spaced feed-through recesses through which the free strands of the tensioning element are fed.

16. Implant in accordance with claim 15, wherein the first pair of feed-through recesses in the outer contact element is arranged between the feed-through recesses of the second pair.

17. Implant in accordance with claim 15, wherein the feed-through recesses of the inner contact element are arranged in a line.

18. Implant in accordance with claim 15, wherein the feed-through recesses of the outer contact element are arranged in a line.

19. Implant in accordance with claim 15, wherein the feed-through recesses of the first pair in the outer contact element and the neighbouring feed-through recesses of the first pair and the second pair in the inner contact element are mutually matched.

20. Implant in accordance with claim 15, wherein the feed-through recesses of the second pair in the outer contact element and the non-neighbouring feed-through recesses of the first pair and the second pair in the inner contact element are mutually matched.

21. Implant in accordance with claim 15, wherein the at least one recess is arranged at a feed-through recess of the second pair in the outer contact element or forms such a feed-through recess.

22. Implant in accordance with claim 15, wherein the at least one recess for the connection region is arranged such that it is displaced relative to the first pair of feed-through recesses.

23. Implant in accordance with claim 15, wherein the first placement region and the second placement region are located on a surface of the inner contact element that is remote from the outer contact element.

24. Implant in accordance with claim 15, wherein the third placement region is located on a surface of the outer contact element that is remote from the inner contact element.

25. Implant in accordance with claim 1, wherein the tensioning element is guided through the outer contact element in displaceable manner.

26. Implant in accordance with claim 1, wherein the inner contact element is displaceable towards the outer contact element when the tensioning element is tensioned.

27. Implant in accordance with claim 1, wherein the tensioning element is provided for passing through the separation gap between the bone plates.

28. Implant in accordance with claim 1, wherein at least one of the inner contact element and the outer contact element comprises at least one spacer for the bone plates which is adapted to project into the separation gap.

29. Implant in accordance with claim 28, wherein the at least one spacer lies along a line with the feed-through recesses.

30. Implant in accordance with claim 1, wherein at least one of the inner contact element and the outer contact element is curved in such a manner that an intermediary space is formed between a region of contact with a bone plate and the region incorporating the contact region.

31. Implant in accordance with claim 1, wherein at least one of the inner contact element and the outer contact element is resilient taken with reference to a connecting direction (32).

32. Implant in accordance with claim 1, wherein at least one of the inner contact element and the outer contact element comprises a gripping area at the region of contact with a bone plate.

33. Implant in accordance with claim 31, wherein the gripping area is formed in peripheral manner.

34. Implant in accordance with claim 1, wherein the tensioning element is made of a resorbable material.

35. Implant for securing neighbouring bone plates, especially neighbouring cranial bone plates, wherein the bone plates each have an inner face and an outer face, comprising:

an inner contact element that is adapted to rest on the inner faces of the neighbouring bone plates;

an outer contact element that is adapted to rest on the outer faces of the neighbouring bone plates; and

an in a linear manner flexible tensioning element for connecting the inner contact element and the outer contact element in such a manner that they can no longer be separated from one another;

wherein the inner contact element comprises a first pair of spaced feed-through recesses between which the tensioning element rests on the inner contact element in a first placement region, and comprises a second pair of neighbouring feed-through recesses for the tensioning element between which the tensioning element rests on the inner contact element in a second placement region; and

wherein the outer contact element comprises a first pair of neighbouring feed-through recesses for the tensioning element between which the tensioning element rests on the outer contact element in a third placement region, and comprises a second pair of spaced feed-through recesses through which the free strands of the tensioning element are fed.