Fracture Fixation Device

• US 20100211075A1
• Filed: 03/08/2010
• Published: 08/19/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Biomet Sports Medicine LLC (Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Biomet Sports Medicine LLC (Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Stone, Kevin T.
• Granted Patent: US 9,078,644 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/70
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0401 Suture anchors, buttons or pledgets, i.e. means for attaching sutures to bone, cartilage or soft tissue; Instruments for applying or removing suture anchors A61B17/0642 takes precedence; fixation devices for tendons or ligaments A61F2/0811
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0487 Suture clamps, clips or locks, e.g. for replacing suture knots; Instruments for applying or removing suture clamps, clips or locks suture anchors A61B17/0401; wound clamps or clips A61B17/08; ligaturing clamps or clips A61B17/122
• 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 17/7053 with parts attached to bones or to each other by flexible wires, straps, sutures or cables
• 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 17/8004 with means for distracting or compressing the bone or bones
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8061 specially adapted for particular bones A61B17/70 and A61B17/74 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/82 for bone cerclage apparatus for manipulating wires or straps A61B17/8861; wires, bands or straps other than cerclage A61B17/842
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/84 Fasteners therefor or fasteners being internal fixation devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/842 Flexible wires, bands or straps A61B17/72, A61B17/82, A61B17/86 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/86 Pins or screws or threaded wires; nuts therefor A61B17/72 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8685 comprising multiple separate parts
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00858 high friction, non-slip on handles A61B2017/00429
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0404 Buttons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0406 Pledgets
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0414 having a suture-receiving opening, e.g. lateral opening lateral eyelet for attaching suture to needle A61B2017/06019
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0417 T-fasteners
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/044 with a threaded shaft, e.g. screws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0445 cannulated, e.g. with a longitudinal through-hole for passage of an instrument
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0448 Additional elements on or within the anchor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0458 : Longitudinal through hole, e.g. suture blocked by a distal suture knot
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0477 : with pre-tied sutures
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/06185 : hollow or tubular hollow suture needles A61B2017/061
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0063 : Implantable repair or support meshes, e.g. hernia meshes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/08 : Muscles; Tendons; Ligaments sutures A61B17/04
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0805 : Implements for inserting tendons or ligaments
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0811 : Fixation devices for tendons or ligaments
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/0852 : Fixation of a loop or U-turn, e.g. eyelets, anchor having multiple holes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/0888 : Anchor in or on a blind hole or on the bone surface without formation of a tunnel

Abstract

Assemblies for securing a fractured or weakened bone within a subject'"'"'s body are provided. The assembly includes a frame having an adjustable flexible member construct thereon. The adjustable flexible member construct is disposed in the frame such that the adjustable flexible member and the frame encircle the fractured or weakened bone.

Claims

1. An assembly for securing a fractured or weakened bone within a subject'"'"'s body comprising:

a frame having a first flexible member holder and a second flexible member holder; and

an adjustable flexible member construct having first and second ends which are passed through first and second openings associated with a longitudinal passage of the adjustable flexible member to form a pair of loops;

wherein the longitudinal passage is pre-disposed in at least one flexible member holder of the frame.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first flexible member holder or the second flexible member holder is a closed flexible member holder.

3. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the frame further defines at least one opening to receive a fastener.

4. The assembly of claim 3, wherein the fastener is selected from the group consisting of pins, screws, spikes, and combinations thereof.

5. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the frame is elongated.

6. The assembly of claim 5, wherein the frame is elongated to receive multiple adjustable flexible member constructs.

7. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the frame is formed from a material selected from the group consisting of metallic materials, non-metallic materials, rigid materials, and combinations thereof.

8. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the adjustable flexible member construct comprises a braided or woven structure.

9. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the first flexible member holder is closed and the second flexible member holder is open.

10. The assembly of claim 9, wherein the adjustable flexible member construct is disposed in the closed flexible member holder.

11. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the adjustable flexible member construct comprises a braided structure and further wherein the frame defines at least one opening to receive a fastener and at least one of the first flexible member holder or the second flexible member holder is closed.

12. A method for securing a fractured or weakened bone within a patient'"'"'s body comprising:

abutting a frame against the fractured or weakened bone;

disposing a longitudinal passage of an adjustable flexible member construct in a flexible member holder defined by the frame;

encircling the fractured or weakened bone by partially wrapping the adjustable flexible member construct about the bone;

slideably fixing a mount of the adjustable flexible member construct in a second flexible member holder defined by the frame; and

reducing the adjustable flexible member construct to compress the fractured or weakened bone.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein abutting the frame against the fractured or weakened bone comprises placing a back side of the frame against the fractured or weakened bone.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein reducing the adjustable flexible member construct to compress the fractured or weakened bone comprises engaging free ends of the adjustable flexible member construct such that the diameter of the encircled region is decreased and the adjustable flexible member construct automatically remains in a reduced position about the fracture.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the fractured or weakened bone is encircled by a combination of the adjustable flexible member construct and the frame.

16. The method of claim 12, further comprising reinforcing the frame to the fractured or weakened bone with a fastener.

17. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

abutting the frame against the fractured or weakened bone comprises placing a back side of the frame against the fractured or weakened bone;

reducing the adjustable flexible member construct to compress the fractured or weakened bone comprises engaging free ends of the adjustable flexible member construct such that the diameter of the encircled region is decreased; and

reinforcing the frame to the fractured or weakened bone with a fastener.

18. An assembly for securing a fractured or weakened bone within a patient'"'"'s body comprising:

a frame having at least one flexible member holder; and

an adjustable flexible member construct disposed about the post to form a loop to contain a bone therein, wherein the adjustable flexible member construct has first and second ends which are passed through first and second openings associated with a longitudinal passage of the adjustable flexible member to form the loop.

19. The assembly of claim 18, wherein the flexible member holder is selected from the group consisting of channels, posts, holes, and combinations thereof.

20. The assembly of claim 19, wherein the frame includes a plurality of posts extending therefrom.

21. The assembly of claim 19, wherein the frame includes a plurality of channels.

22. The assembly of claim 21, wherein at least two of the channels are parallel to each other.

23. The assembly of claim 18, wherein the frame further comprises at least one opening to receive a fastener.

24. The assembly of claim 18, wherein the frame comprises a monolithic structure.

25. The assembly of claim 18, wherein the flexible member construct is automatically tightened upon engaging the ends of the adjustable flexible member.

26. A method for securing a fractured or weakened bone within a patient'"'"'s body comprising:

advancing an adjustable flexible member construct through an opening defined in the fractured or weakened bone;

abutting a first fixation element having a region of the adjustable flexible member construct disposed thereon against a first region of the fractured or weakened bone;

engaging the adjustable flexible member construct with a second fixation element such that the adjustable flexible member construct spans between the first fixation element and the second fixation element; and

fixing the adjustable flexible member construct against the first fixation element to reduce the adjustable flexible member construct to compress the fractured or weakened bone.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein reducing the adjustable flexible member construct to compress the fractured or weakened bone comprises engaging free ends of the adjustable flexible member construct.

28. The method of claim 26, further comprising selecting a first fixation element which is different from the second fixation element.