Orthopedic plate for use in small bone repair
First Claim
1. A method of facilitating surgery comprising providing a system of orthopedic plates comprisinga surgical tray presenting an alpha version and a beta version of an orthopedic plate, the plate having an inferior surface which is capable of facing a bone surface in use which forms a segment of a cylinder and an oppositely facing concentric superior surface, the plate having a central trunk portion defining a longitudinal axis extending between a first end and a second end, said plate including at the first end a pair of divergent arms which extend so as to form a left arm and a right arm, each arm including a screw hole joined to the trunk portion by a link, each arm of the pair having a longitudinal axis defining an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the trunk area and the angle of the left arm being α
- and the angle of the right arm being β
where α
is different than β and
the beta version of the plate is a mirror image of the alpha version of the plate; and
wherein the alpha version of the plate is provided in at least two alpha versions, a first version having one screw hole in the central trunk, and a second version having other than one screw hole in the central trunk, and wherein the beta version of the plate is provided in at least two beta versions, a first version having one screw hole in the central trunk, and a second version having other than one screw hole in the central trunk.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention relates to an orthopedic plate and screw system and instruments for surgical fixation of a small bone or bones. The plate facilitates three dimensional contouring to provide for a variety of applications and to accommodate individual variation in bone shape. The plate has a modified x shape including a central trunk portion including one or more screw holes along a longitudinal axis and a set of divergent upper and an oppositely extending set of divergent lower arms, each arm including screw holes which are placed at a radially equal distance but which diverging asymmetrically from the longitudinal axis relative to its paired upper or lower mate. The screws of the system are self-starting, self-tapping screws including the option of partial or full cannulation.
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Citations
33 Claims
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1. A method of facilitating surgery comprising providing a system of orthopedic plates comprising
a surgical tray presenting an alpha version and a beta version of an orthopedic plate, the plate having an inferior surface which is capable of facing a bone surface in use which forms a segment of a cylinder and an oppositely facing concentric superior surface, the plate having a central trunk portion defining a longitudinal axis extending between a first end and a second end, said plate including at the first end a pair of divergent arms which extend so as to form a left arm and a right arm, each arm including a screw hole joined to the trunk portion by a link, each arm of the pair having a longitudinal axis defining an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the trunk area and the angle of the left arm being α - and the angle of the right arm being β
where α
is different than β and
the beta version of the plate is a mirror image of the alpha version of the plate; andwherein the alpha version of the plate is provided in at least two alpha versions, a first version having one screw hole in the central trunk, and a second version having other than one screw hole in the central trunk, and wherein the beta version of the plate is provided in at least two beta versions, a first version having one screw hole in the central trunk, and a second version having other than one screw hole in the central trunk. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
- and the angle of the right arm being β
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10. A method of enabling a surgery on one or more of a set of bones comprising the ulna, radius, tibia, fibula, metacarpals, carpals, metatarsals, tarsals, and phalanges comprising
providing a surgical tray including a pre-contoured plate which is a Y-shaped plate, the plate comprising a trunk defining a longitudinal axis with a first end and an opposing second end, and a first arm and a second arm extending from the first end of the trunk, the trunk having a constant radial curve in the z direction about the longitudinal axis, and the first arm and the second arm following the radial curve of the trunk so as to spiral about the longitudinal axis toward each other, the first arm having an ear with at least one screw hole defining a first screw axis perpendicular to a tangent to the top surface of the first ear, the first ear being attached to the trunk by a linking section having a waist, a first angle and a first length being defined by a line from the center of the first arm screw hole to the intersection of the longitudinal axis of the trunk, the second arm having a second ear with at least one second screw hole defining a second screw axis perpendicular to a tangent to the top surface of the second ear, the second ear being attached to the trunk by a linking section having a waist, a second angle and a second length being defined by a line from the center of the second arm screw hole to the intersection of the longitudinal axis of the trunk. the first angle and the first length being different from the second angle and the second length whereby the first screw axis and the second screw axis converge toward the inferior side of the plate but do not intersect, and the tray further including a plate bender which will bend the linking section of the first arm and the second arm without deforming the screw hole of the arm.
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20. A method of enabling a surgery on one or more of a set of bones comprising the ulna, radius, tibia, fibula, metacarpals, carpals, metatarsals, tarsals, and phalanges comprising
providing a surgical tray including each of a set of alpha and a set of beta pre-contoured plates, each plate being a Y-shaped plate, the plate comprising a trunk defining a longitudinal axis with a first end and an opposing second end, and a first arm and a second arm extending from the first end of the trunk, the trunk having a constant radial curve in the z direction about the longitudinal axis, and the first arm and the second arm following the radial curve of the trunk so as to spiral about the longitudinal axis toward each other so that the plate defines a segment of a cylinder, the first arm having an ear with at least one screw hole defining a first screw axis perpendicular to a tangent to the top surface of the first ear, the first ear being attached to the trunk by a linking section having a waist, a first angle and a first length being defined by a line from the center of the first arm screw hole to the intersection of the longitudinal axis of the trunk, the second arm having a second ear with at least one second screw hole defining a second screw axis perpendicular to a tangent to the top surface of the second ear, the second ear being attached to the trunk by a linking section having a waist, a second angle and a second length being defined by a line from the center of the second arm screw hole to the intersection of the longitudinal axis of the trunk, the first angle and the first length being different from the second angle and the second length whereby the first screw axis and the second screw axis converge toward the inferior side of the plate but so not intersect, the alpha plate being a mirror image of the beta plate, and each of the alpha and the beta sets including at least a first plate having a trunk with a single through hole and a second plate having a trunk having at least two through holes; - and
the tray further comprising a plate bender which will bend the linking section of the first arm and the second arm without deforming the screw hole of the arm. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
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23. A method of performing a surgery on one or more of a set of bones comprising the ulna, radius, tibia, fibula, as well as the metacarpals, carpals, metatarsals, tarsals, and phalanges comprising
accessing the bone by opening a wound; -
selecting a pre-contoured plate which is a Y-shaped plate, the plate comprising a trunk defining a longitudinal axis with a first end and an opposing second end, and a first arm and a second arm extending from the first end of the trunk the trunk having a constant radial curve in the z direction about the longitudinal axis and the first arm and the second arm following the radial curve of the trunk so as to spiral about the longitudinal axis toward each other, the first arm having an ear with at least one screw hole defining a first screw axis perpendicular to a tangent to the top surface of the first ear, the first ear being attached to the trunk by a linking section having a waist, a first angle and a first length being defined by a line from the center of the first arm screw hole to the intersection of the longitudinal axis of the trunk, the second arm having a second ear with at least one second screw hole defining a second screw axis perpendicular to a tangent to the top surface of the second ear, the second ear being attached to the trunk by a linking section having a waist, a second angle and a second length being defined by a line from the center of the second arm screw hole to the intersection of the longitudinal axis of the trunk, the first angle and the first length being different from the second angle and the second length whereby the first screw axis and the second screw axis converge toward the inferior side of the plate but so not intersect; using a plate bender to bend the linking section of the first arm and the second arm without deforming the screw hole of the arm, attaching the bent plate to the bone, and surgically closing the wound. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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Specification