Apparatus for the mobile fixation of bones

• US 5,749,873 A
• Filed: 07/17/1996
• Issued: 05/12/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Jeffrey D. Fairley
• Original Assignee: Jeffrey D. Fairley
• Inventors: Fairley, Jeffrey D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Willse, David H.
• Application Number:
  US08/683,620
• Time in Patent Office: 664 Days
• Field of Search: 606/71, 606/70, 606/105, 606/72, 606/69, 433/173
• US Class Current: 606/70
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/68 Internal fixation devices , including fasteners and spinal fixators, even if a part thereof projects from the skin bone staples A61B17/0642
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8004 with means for distracting or compressing the bone or bones
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8023 Variable length plates adjustable in both directions
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00831 Material properties
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/30767 Special external or bone-contacting surface, e.g. coating for improving bone ingrowth
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 31/022 Metals or alloys
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 31/026 Ceramic or ceramic-like structures, e.g. glasses
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 31/04 Macromolecular materials

Abstract

An apparatus for the mobile fixation of bones in one plane, which has a first assembly plate that can be fixed on the bone by a suitable first fastener and which has a first connecting part and a second assembly plate which can be fixed on the bone by a suitable second fastener, and which has a second connecting part. Optionally, the apparatus has at least one further assembly plate, which can be fixed on the bone by a suitable fastener and it has a further connecting part which is mounted on a connecting element. The connecting element is mounted on the connecting parts so that the movement of the assembly plates is possible in relation to each other in substantially only one plane, and a change of spacing of the assembly plates relative to each other is possible by a predetermined length. All the components of the apparatus must consist of physiologically compatible materials (such as, for example, precious metals, ceramics, plastics, gold-vitallium alloys, titanium, vanadium, high quality steels and alloys thereof, etc.) to prevent a defensive reaction of the human or animal body. At the same time, the materials must be osseointegratable, to allow the bone to grow undisturbed.

Claims

1. A physiologically-compatible apparatus configured to passively but rigidly maintain at least a first bone or bone segment and a second bone or bone segment in a substantially coplanar relation, one to the other, while permitting substantially linear movement of said bones or bone segments along a bone growth axis, said apparatus comprising:

a first assembly plate which is configured to be fixed on said first bone or bone segment by a first fixing means and which has a first connecting part;

a second assembly plate which is configured to be fixed on said second bone or bone segment by a second fixing means and which has a second connecting part;

a connecting element located between said first and second assembly plates, said connecting element being mounted on said first and second connecting parts, said connecting element having a connecting element axis fixedly attached to said second connecting part of said second assembly plate said connecting element having one guide pin having a guide pin axis, said guide pin fixedly attached to said first connecting part of said first assembly plate, said guide pin slidably and rotatably attached to said connecting element axis,

so that said first and second assembly plates are configured to be initially moved together as far as possible along said connecting element axis when said first and said second fixing means are fixed on said first and second bones or bone segments,

wherein movement of said first and second assembly plates in relation to each other is substantially possible linearly between said guide pin attached to said first connecting part of said first assembly plate along said connecting element axis attached to said second connecting part of said second assembly plate, and rotationally around said guide pin axis of said guide pin,

wherein said first and second assembly plates are configured to move freely from each other substantially along said connecting element axis in response to bone growth along said bone growth axis, and wherein said first and second assembly plates and said connecting element are configured to maintain said substantially coplanar relation between said first and second bones or bone segments.

2. An apparatus for the mobile fixation of bones in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

said first fixing means has at least two devices which can be fixed on said first bone or bone segment;

said second fixing means has at least two second devices which can be fixed on said first bone or bone segment;

said first connecting part has means for mounting said connecting element on said first assembly plate; and

said second connecting part has means for mounting said connecting element on said second assembly plate.

3. An apparatus for the mobile fixation of bones in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for fixing said first and second assembly plates on said bones have screws.

4. An apparatus for the mobile fixation of bones in accordance with claim 1, wherein said second connecting part has an aperture formed along said connecting element axis, therein to which one end of said guide pin is displaceably mounted.

5. An apparatus for the mobile fixation of bones in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

said second connecting part comprises a guide slot said connecting element axis, in which a cross-section of said guide is substantially T-shaped; and

wherein said guide pin is slidably and rotatably displaced within said T-shaped guide slot.

6. An apparatus for the mobile fixation of bones in accordance with claim 1, wherein the material for the apparatus is composed of osseo-integratable materials.

7. An apparatus for the mobile fixation of bones in accordance with claim 6, wherein the materials for the apparatus are selected from a group which comprises physiologically compatible materials, precious metals, ceramics, plastics, gold-vitallium alloys, titanium, vanadium, high quality steels as well as alloys thereof.