Surgical plate puller devices and methods for use with surgical bone screw/plate systems

• US 20080234752A1
• Filed: 06/13/2007
• Published: 09/25/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: University of North Carolina At Chapel Hill (University of North Carolina System)
• Original Assignee: Anglefix Tech LLC, University of North Carolina At Chapel Hill (University of North Carolina System)
• Inventors: Dahners, Laurence E.
• Granted Patent: US 8,764,764 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/291
• 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 17/8057 the interlocking form comprising a thread
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/861 specially shaped for gripping driver
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/863 with thread interrupted or changing its form along shank, other than constant taper
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8869 Tensioning devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/888 the driver bit acting on the central region of the screw head
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8888 at its central region
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 23/0023 substantially cross-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 23/0084 with a threaded engagement between the head of the bolt or screw and the tool
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 23/0092 with a head engageable by two or more different tools F16B23/0076 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 25/00 Screws that cut thread in the body into which they are screwed, e.g. wood screws F16B35/065 takes precedence; joining sheets or plates using screws with two separate threads F16B5/0275, using screws with adjustment sleeves F16B5/0283
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 35/065 with self-countersink-cutting means

Abstract

A plate puller device can include a head portion and extension rod portion. The device enables the fastener receiving member to be pulled against a bone surface before a head section of the fastener is advanced within the fastener receiving member into a locked position. The head portion can be positioned between the head section of the fastener and a surface of the fastener receiving member not adjacent to the bone surface. Also, a plate puller device can include a screwdriver, a grasper portion and a grasper sleeve. The grasper portion and grasper sleeve can be threadingly mated wherein rotation of the grasper sleeve forces a head portion of the grasper portion to grip the head section of the fastener to prevent the head section from advancing within the fastener receiving member.

Claims

1. A surgical plate-pulling system that facilitates pulling a fastener receiving member against a bone surface, comprising:

(a) a fastener comprising an elongate section and an adjoining head section disposed along a fastener axis, the head section comprising a thread;

(b) a fastener receiving member comprising first and second opposing major surfaces, an inside surface extending between the first and second major surfaces and defining an aperture generally coaxially disposed about an aperture axis, and a tappable contact region disposed on the inside surface; and

(c) a plate puller device for facilitating the fastener receiving member to be pulled against a bone surface during insertion of the fastener therethrough by preventing the head section of the fastener from engaging the tappable contact region of the fastener receiving member until the fastener receiving member is pulled against the bone surface.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the fastener is a surgical bone screw.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the fastener receiving member is a surgical bone plate.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the plate puller device comprises a head portion and an extension rod.

5. The system according to claim 4, wherein the head portion of the plate puller device is generally U-shaped.

6. The system according to claim 4, wherein the head portion of the plate puller device is positioned between the head section of the fastener and one of the first or second opposing major surfaces not adjacent to the bone surface.

7. The system according to claim 4, wherein the head portion is integral with the extension rod.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein the plate puller device comprises a screwdriver.

9. The system according to claim 8, wherein the plate puller device further comprises a grasper portion that is configured to fit around the screwdriver.

10. The system according to claim 9, wherein the grasper portion has a threaded section.

11. The system according to claim 10, wherein the grasper portion has a wedged head portion.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein the plate puller device further comprises a grasper sleeve being threadingly mated to the grasper portion.

13. The system according to claim 12, wherein the grasper sleeve is rotated toward the wedged head portion of the grasper portion, whereby the wedged head portion grips the head section of the fastener to prevent the head section of the fastener from engaging the tappable contact region of the fastener receiving member.

14. A surgical method for pulling a fastener receiving member against a bone surface, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a fastener comprising an elongate section and an adjoining head section disposed along a fastener axis, the head section comprising a thread;

(b) providing a fastener receiving member comprising first and second opposing major surfaces, an inside surface extending between the first and second major surfaces and defining an aperture generally coaxially disposed about an aperture axis, and a tappable contact region disposed on the inside surface;

(c) positioning the first opposing major surface of the fastener receiving member against a bone surface;

(d) inserting the elongate section of the fastener through the aperture;

(e) positioning a plate puller device between the second opposing major surface of the fastener receiving member and the head section of the fastener;

(f) inserting the fastener until the first opposing major surface of the fastener receiving member is pulled against and into contact with the bone surface;

(g) removing the plate puller device; and

(h) inserting the fastener until the thread of the head section engages the tappable contact region.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the fastener is a surgical bone screw.

16. The method according to claim 14, wherein the elongate section is threaded, and inserting the fastener into the bone material comprises threading the elongate section into the bone material.

17. The method according to claim 14, wherein the fastener receiving member comprises a surgical bone plate.

18. A surgical plate puller device for facilitating in pulling a fastener receiving member against a bone surface, comprising:

(a) a head portion configured to adapt around a fastener at a position below a head section of the fastener;

(b) an extension rod integral with the head portion; and

(c) wherein the head portion prevents the head section of the fastener from being inserted within the fastener receiving member such that as the fastener continues to be inserted into a bone the fastener receiving member is pulled against the bone surface before the head section of the fastener is permitted to be locked into the fastener receiving member.

19. The plate puller device according to claim 18, wherein the fastener is a surgical bone screw.

20. The plate puller device according to claim 18, wherein the head portion of the plate puller device is generally U-shaped.

21. The plate puller device according to claim 18, wherein the head portion of the plate puller device has a substantially flat surface for abutting the fastener receiving member.

22. The plate puller device according to claim 18, wherein the head portion is positioned between the head section of the fastener and a surface of the fastener receiving member not adjacent to the bone surface.

23. The plate puller device according to claim 18, wherein the fastener receiving member comprises a surgical bone plate.

24. A plate puller device for facilitating in pulling a fastener receiving member against a bone surface, comprising:

(a) a grasper portion that is configured to fit around a screwdriver;

(b) a grasper sleeve positioned around the grasper portion; and

(c) wherein the grasper portion and grasper sleeve are in cooperative engagement such that the grasper portion grips a head section of a fastener to prevent the head section of the fastener from advancing within an aperture of a fastener receiving member.

25. The plate puller device of claim 24, wherein the grasper portion and grasper sleeve are threadingly mated.

26. The plate puller device of claim 24, wherein the grasper sleeve has a head portion for preventing the head section of the fastener from engaging the fastener receiving member.

27. The plate puller device of claim 26, wherein the head portion of the grasper sleeve comprises a plurality of radially displaceable wedges.

28. The plate puller device of claim 27, wherein the grasper sleeve may be advanced against the plurality of radially displaceable wedges such that the plurality of radially displaceable wedges compress around the head section of the fastener, thereby preventing the head section of the fastener from advancing within the fastener receiving member.