BONE PLATE EXTENDER AND EXTENSION SYSTEM FOR BONE RESTORATION AND METHODS OF USE THEREOF

• US 20090275987A1
• Filed: 05/02/2008
• Published: 11/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: UPEX Holdings LLC
• Original Assignee: UPEX Holdings LLC
• Inventors: Wiedrich, Thomas A., Bamberger, H. Brent, Calandruccio, James Howard, Focht, Louise M., Graham, Thomas James
• Granted Patent: US 8,652,179 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/280
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/80 Cortical plates , i.e. bone plates; Instruments for holding or positioning cortical plates, or for compressing bones attached to cortical plates
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8061 specially adapted for particular bones A61B17/70 and A61B17/74 take precedence

Abstract

The disclosure includes a bone plate extender and extension system. The system includes a first bone plate extender and may additionally include a bone fixation element and/or an additional bone plate. The bone plate extender may be affixed to a bone portion at one end, for instance, a fractured bone portion, via a bone fixation element, and associated with a second bone plate at an opposite end, so as to facilitate alignment and stabilization of the bone and thereby correct and treat a bone fracture. The bone plate extender may include an extended body, which includes a bone plate engagement portion, a bone fixation portion, and an intercalating portion there between. In certain variations, the extended body is planar, and in certain variations the extended body is angled, curved or arced. Methods of using such bone plate extension systems for the reduction, restoration and treatment of bone fractures are also provided.

Claims

1. A bone plate extender, comprising an extended body, the extended body in turn comprising:

a bone plate engagement portion comprising a bottom surface and a top surface, the top surface being substantially planar and configured for contacting a bone contacting surface of a bone plate;

a bone fixation portion adapted for being associated with a bone fixation element; and

an intercalating portion extending between the bone plate engagement portion and the bone fixation portion and comprising a bottom surface and a top surface.

2. The bone plate extender of claim 1, wherein a distance between the bottom and top surface of the bone plate engagement portion comprises a first thickness, and a distance between the bottom and top surface of the intercalating portion comprises a second thickness.

3. The bone plate extender of claim 2, wherein the first thickness and second thickness comprises a unitary thickness.

4. The bone plate extender of claim 2, wherein the second thickness is greater than the first thickness.

5. The bone plate extender of claim 1, wherein the intercalating portion is adapted so as to be deformed by the application of a deforming force.

6. The bone plate extender of claim 1, wherein the intercalating portion is adapted so as to resist deformation.

7. The bone plate extender of claim 1, wherein the intercalating portion further comprises a proximal portion including a proximal end, a distal portion including a distal end, an intermediary portion positioned between the proximal and the distal portions, a top surface, a bottom surface opposite the top surface, and a primary plane, wherein the primary plane corresponds to either the top surface or the bottom surface.

8. The bone plate extender of claim 7, wherein the primary plane corresponds to the proximal portion, and the distal portion is out of plane with respect to the primary plane.

9. The bone plate extender of claim 8, wherein one of the top surface or the bottom surface comprises one or more secondary planes.

10. The bone plate extender of claim 8, wherein one of the top surface or the bottom surface comprises an arc.

11. The bone plate extender of claim 8, wherein the distal portion is angled with respect to the proximal portion.

12. The bone plate extender of claim 8, wherein the bone plate engagement portion is angled with respect to the primary plane.

13. The bone plate extender of claim 8, wherein the bone fixation portion is angled with respect to the primary plane.

14. The bone plate extender of claim 1, wherein the bone plate engagement portion further comprises an opening extending between the top surface and the bone contacting surface, wherein the opening is configured for receiving a fastener there through.

15. The bone plate extender of claim 14, wherein the bone plate engagement portion is configured for being attached to both a primary bone plate and a bone portion via the insertion of the fastener through the opening.

16. The bone plate extender of claim 1, wherein the bone fixation portion further comprises an opening extending between the top surface and the bone contacting surface, wherein the opening is configured for receiving a bone fixation element there through.

17. The bone plate extender of claim 16, wherein the bone fixation element comprises a fastener.

18. A bone fixation element, comprising an extended body, the extended body comprising:

a proximal portion including a proximal end, the proximal portion comprising a shaft, the shaft comprising at least one smooth region and at least one threaded region, the smooth region being positioned between the proximal end and the threaded region, the threaded region comprising locking screw threads, and the proximal end being configured for engaging a top surface of a bone plate;

a distal portion including a distal end, the distal portion being conical and tapered such that the distal end comprises a point;

and an elongate portion extending between the proximal and distal portions, the elongate portion comprising threading.

19. The bone fixation element of claim 18, wherein the smooth region positioned between the proximal end and the threaded region, comprises a length, wherein the length corresponds to the thickness of a bone plate.

20. The bone fixation element of claim 19, wherein the threaded region comprises a length, wherein the length corresponds to the thickness of a bone plate extender.

21. A bone plate extender system, comprising:

a bone plate extender, the bone plate extender comprising an extended body, the extended body in turn comprising;

a bone plate engagement portion comprising a bottom surface and a top surface, the top surface being substantially planar and configured for contacting a bone contacting surface of a bone plate;

a bone fixation portion adapted for receiving a bone fixation element; and

an intercalating portion extending between the bone plate engagement portion and the bone fixation portion and comprising a bottom surface and a top surface; and

a bone fixation element, the bone fixation element, comprising an extended body, the extended body comprising;

a proximal portion including a proximal end, the proximal portion comprising a shaft, the shaft comprising at least one smooth region and at least one threaded region, the smooth region being positioned between the proximal end and the threaded region, the threaded region comprising locking screw threads, and the proximal end being configured for engaging a top surface of a bone plate;

a distal portion including a distal end, the distal portion being conical and tapered such that the distal end comprises a point; and

an elongate portion extending between the proximal and distal portions, the elongate portion comprising threading.

22. A method of using a bone plate extender in conjunction with a primary bone plate so as to reduce a bone fracture, comprising:

attaching a primary bone plate to a first bone portion;

attaching a bone plate extender to a second bone portion, the bone plate extender comprising an extended body, the extended body in turn comprising;

a bone plate engagement portion comprising a bottom surface and a top surface, the top surface being substantially planar and configured for contacting a bone contacting surface of a bone plate;

a bone fixation portion adapted for receiving a bone fixation element; and

an intercalating portion extending between the bone plate engagement portion and the bone fixation portion and comprising a bottom surface and a top surface; and

attaching the bone plate extender to the primary bone plate, in a manner sufficient to reduce the bone fracture.