System and Method for Bone Fixation

• US 20130190831A1
• Filed: 03/12/2013
• Published: 07/25/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Arthrosurface, Inc (Anika Therapeutics Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Arthrosurface, Inc (Anika Therapeutics Incorporated)
• Inventors: Ek, Steven W., Sikora, George
• Application Number:
  US13/796,675
• Publication Number:
  US 20130190831A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/315
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7291 for small bones, e.g. in the foot, ankle, hand or wrist
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/863 with thread interrupted or changing its form along shank, other than constant taper
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8685 comprising multiple separate parts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4225 for feet, e.g. toes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4241 for hands, e.g. fingers
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30153 rectangular
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30331 made by longitudinally pushing a protrusion into a complementarily-shaped recess, e.g. held by friction fit
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30332 Conically- or frustoconically-shaped protrusion and recess
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30571 Leaf springs
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30873 Threadings machined on non-cylindrical external surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4228 for interphalangeal joints, i.e. IP joints
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4243 for interphalangeal joints, i.e. IP joints

Abstract

A fixation system for coupling a first and a second portion of bone together. The fixation system includes a first fixation element, a second fixation element, and an interconnect. The first and second fixation elements include external surfaces configured to engage the first and second portions of bone, respectively, and a first and second mating surface, respectively. The interconnect includes a first and a second surface disposed at generally opposite ends, which are configured to engage the first and the second mating surfaces of the first and the second element, respectively, to form connections therebetween. At least one of the first mating surface, the second mating surface, the first surface, or the second surface is configured to deform when coupling the first fixation element, the second fixation element, or the interconnect.

Claims

1. A fixation system for coupling a first and a second portion of bone together, said fixation system comprising:

a first fixation element having an external surface configured to engage said first portion of bone, said first fixation element including a first mating surface;

a second fixation element having an external surface configured to engage said second portion of bone, said second fixation element including a second mating surface; and

an interconnect comprising a first and a second mating portion disposed at generally opposite ends, said first and said second mating portions configured to engage said first and said second mating surfaces of said first and said second element, respectively, to form connections therebetween;

wherein at least one of said first mating surface, said second mating surface, said first mating portion, or said second mating portion is configured to deform when coupling said first fixation element, said second fixation element, or said interconnect.

2. The fixation system of claim 1, wherein at least one of said first mating surface, said second mating surface, said first mating portion, or said second mating portion is configured to plastically deform when coupling said first fixation element, said second fixation element, or said interconnect.

3. The fixation system of claim 2, wherein at least one of said first mating surface, said second mating surface, said first mating portion, or said second mating portion includes a portion which is formed from plastic.

4. The fixation system of claim 3, wherein at least one of said first mating surface, said second mating surface, said first mating portion, or said second mating portion includes a portion which is formed from polyether ether ketone.

5. The fixation system of claim 1, wherein at least one of said first mating surface, said second mating surface, said first mating portion, or said second mating portion includes at least one thread configured to plastically deform when coupling said first fixation element, said second fixation element, or said interconnect.

6. The fixation system of claim 5, wherein said first mating surface includes said at least one thread.

7. The fixation system of claim 6, wherein said at least one thread extends radially along only a portion of a length of said first mating surface.

8. The fixation system of claim 6, wherein said at least one thread extends radially along the entire length of said first mating surface.

9. The fixation system of claim 5, wherein said first mating portion includes said at least one thread.

10. The fixation system of claim 9, wherein said at least one thread extends radially along only a portion of a length of said first mating portion.

11. The fixation system of claim 9, wherein said at least one thread extends radially along the entire length of said first mating portion.

12. The fixation system of claim 1, wherein at least one of said first mating surface, said second mating surface, said first mating portion, or said second mating portion includes at least one protrusion configured to plastically deform when coupling said first fixation element, said second fixation element, or said interconnect.

13. The fixation system of claim 12, wherein said first mating surface includes said at least one protrusion.

14. The fixation system of claim 13, wherein said at least one protrusion extends radially along only a portion of a length of said first mating surface.

15. The fixation system of claim 13, wherein said at least one protrusion extends radially along the entire length of said first mating surface.

16. The fixation system of claim 12, wherein said first mating portion includes said at least one protrusion.

17. The fixation system of claim 16, wherein said at least one protrusion extends radially along only a portion of a length of said first mating portion.

18. The fixation system of claim 16, wherein said at least one thread extends radially along the entire length of said first mating portion.

19. The fixation system of claim 1, wherein said first fixation element defines a first generally cylindrical element having said first mating surface;

and

wherein said interconnect includes a first generally cylindrical portion having said first mating portion configured to engage said first mating surfaces of said first fixation element.

20. The fixation system of claim 19, wherein said second fixation element defines a second generally cylindrical element having said second mating surface;

and

wherein said interconnect includes a second generally cylindrical portion having said second mating portion configured to engage said second mating surfaces of said second fixation element.

21. The fixation system of claim 19, wherein said first tapered generally cylindrical portion of said first fixation element defines a generally cylindrical cavity having an internal surface including said first mating surface;

and

wherein said first generally cylindrical portion of said interconnect includes a first generally cylindrical protrusion having an external surface including said first mating portion.

22. The fixation system of claim 19, wherein said first generally cylindrical portion defines a generally cylindrical protrusion having an external surface including said first mating surface;

and

wherein said first generally cylindrical portion of said interconnect includes a first generally cylindrical cavity having an internal surface including said first mating portion.

23. The fixation system of claim 1, further including a pin configured to extend outwardly from said first fixation element along a longitudinal axis of said first fixation element.

24. The fixation system of claim 1, further including a shoulder extending radially outwardly from at least a portion of said interconnect, said shoulder located between said first and said second mating portions.

25. The fixation system of claim 1, wherein said interconnect further includes a cannulated passageway extending along a longitudinal axis of said interconnect between said generally opposite ends thereof.

26. The fixation system of claim 1, wherein said first fixation element further includes a cannulated passage extending between a proximal end to a distal end of said first fixation element.

27. The fixation system of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of said interconnect is configured to allow at least a portion of said interconnect to bend.

28. The fixation system of claim 27, wherein at least a portion of said interconnect comprises a shape memory material.

29. The fixation system of claim 27, wherein said interconnect is further configured to allow bending motion in generally only a single plane.

30. The fixation system of claim 27, wherein said interconnect is configured to reduce bending in at least one longitudinal plane.

31. The fixation system of claim 1, wherein said external surface of said first fixation element includes an externally threaded portion configured to engage said first portion of bone.

32. The fixation system of claim 31, wherein said first fixation element is configured to engage with a driver to rotate said first fixation element into said first portion of bone.

33. The fixation system of claim 32, wherein said first fixation element includes at least one notch configured to engage with a driver to rotate said first fixation element.

34. The fixation system of claim 32, wherein said first fixation element includes at least one notch configured to engage with a driver to rotate said first fixation element.

35. The fixation system of claim 1, wherein said external surface of said first fixation element includes a keyed region configured to engage with a corresponding keyed region of said driver to rotate said first fixation element.

36. The fixation system of claim 1, wherein said first and said second mating surfaces comprise tapered surfaces, and wherein said first and said second mating portions comprise tapered surfaces configured to frictionally engage said first and said second tapered surfaces of said first and said second fixation elements, respectively.

37. A fixation system for coupling a first and a second portion of bone together, said fixation system comprising:

a first fixation element comprising a first body having an external surface configured to engage said first portion of bone, said first body defining a first generally cylindrical protrusion having a first external surface;

a second fixation element comprising a second body having an external surface configured to engage said second portion of bone, said second body defining a second generally cylindrical protrusion having a second external surface; and

an interconnect comprising a first and a second generally cylindrical cavity having a first and a second internal surface configured to engage said first and said second external surfaces of said first and said second protrusions, respectively, to form connections therebetween;

wherein at least one of said first external surface, said second external surface, said first internal surface, or said second internal surface is configured to deform when coupling said first fixation element, said second fixation element, or said interconnect.

38. The fixation system of claim 37, wherein said first and said second external surfaces comprise tapered surfaces, and wherein said first and said second internal surfaces comprise tapered surfaces configured to frictionally engage said first and said second tapered external surfaces of said first and said second fixation elements, respectively.

39. A fixation system for coupling a first and a second portion of bone together, said fixation system comprising:

a first fixation element comprising a first body having an external surface configured to engage said first portion of bone, said first body defining a first generally cylindrical cavity having a first internal surface;

a second fixation element comprising a second body having an external surface configured to engage said second portion of bone, said second body defining a second generally cylindrical cavity having a internal surface; and

an interconnect comprising a first and a second generally cylindrical protrusion having a first and a second external surface configured to engage said first and said second internal surfaces of said first and said second cavities, respectively, to form connections therebetween;

wherein at least one of said first internal surface, said second internal surface, said first external surface, or said second external surface is configured to deform when coupling said first fixation element, said second fixation element, or said interconnect.

40. The fixation system of claim 39, wherein said first and said second internal surfaces comprise tapered surfaces, and wherein said first and said second external surfaces comprise tapered surfaces configured to frictionally engage said first and said second tapered internal surfaces of said first and said second fixation elements, respectively.