Bone plate with varying rigidity
First Claim
1. An elongate bone plate with varying rigidity for securing a discontinuity in a bone, the bone plate being formed of a bio-compatible material and comprising:
- a bridge portion configured to span the discontinuity in the bone; and
two anchor portions extending outward from the bridge portion and configured to contact the bone on opposite sides of the discontinuity, at least one anchor portion being an elongate structure having at least three apertures adapted to receive fasteners for affixing the elongate anchor portion to the bone;
wherein in the elongate anchor portion the width of the anchor portion about the apertures first and second most distant from the bridge portion exceeds the minimum width of the anchor portion between such apertures;
wherein in the elongate anchor portion the minimum rigidity of the anchor portion between the apertures second and third most distant from the bridge portion exceeds the minimum rigidity of the anchor portion between the apertures first and second most distant from the bridge portion; and
wherein in the elongate anchor portion the separation between the apertures first and second most distant from the bridge portion exceeds the separation between the apertures second and third most distant from the bridge portion.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus and method for securing a discontinuity in a bone. The apparatus generally comprises a bone plate with varying rigidity that includes a bridge portion configured to span the discontinuity and two anchor portions configured to contact the bone on opposite sides of the discontinuity. At least one anchor portion is an elongate structure having at least three apertures adapted to receive fasteners for affixing the elongate anchor portion to the bone. The minimum rigidity of the elongate anchor portion between the apertures second and third most distant from the bridge portion exceeds the minimum rigidity between the apertures first and second most distant from the bridge portion. In addition, the separation in the elongate anchor portion between the apertures first and second most distant from the bridge portion exceeds the separation between the apertures second and third most distant from the bridge portion. The method includes the step of securing a discontinuity in a bone using a bone plate with varying rigidity.
288 Citations
25 Claims
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1. An elongate bone plate with varying rigidity for securing a discontinuity in a bone, the bone plate being formed of a bio-compatible material and comprising:
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a bridge portion configured to span the discontinuity in the bone; and two anchor portions extending outward from the bridge portion and configured to contact the bone on opposite sides of the discontinuity, at least one anchor portion being an elongate structure having at least three apertures adapted to receive fasteners for affixing the elongate anchor portion to the bone; wherein in the elongate anchor portion the width of the anchor portion about the apertures first and second most distant from the bridge portion exceeds the minimum width of the anchor portion between such apertures; wherein in the elongate anchor portion the minimum rigidity of the anchor portion between the apertures second and third most distant from the bridge portion exceeds the minimum rigidity of the anchor portion between the apertures first and second most distant from the bridge portion; and wherein in the elongate anchor portion the separation between the apertures first and second most distant from the bridge portion exceeds the separation between the apertures second and third most distant from the bridge portion. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 21, 22, 23)
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11. An elongate bone plate with varying rigidity for securing a mid-shaft discontinuity in a bone, the bone plate being formed of a bio-compatible material and comprising:
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a bridge portion configured to span the mid-shaft discontinuity in the bone, the bridge portion having opposed ends; and two oppositely directed anchor portions extending outward from the opposed ends of the bridge portion to define a long axis and configured to contact the bone on opposite sides of the discontinuity, each anchor portion having, at each point along the long axis, a cross-sectional area transverse to the long axis, and each anchor portion having at least three apertures adapted to receive fasteners for affixing the elongate anchor portion to the bone; wherein in each anchor portion the minimum cross-sectional area between the apertures second and third most distant from the bridge portion exceeds the minimum cross-sectional area between the apertures first and second most distant from the bridge portion; and wherein in each anchor portion the separation between the apertures first and second most distant from the bridge portion exceeds the separation between the apertures second and third most distant from the bridge portion. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method of securing a discontinuity in a bone, the method comprising:
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(a) providing a bone plate with varying rigidity, the bone plate including; a bridge portion configured to span the discontinuity in the bone; and two anchor portions extending outward from the bridge portion and configured to contact the bone on opposite sides of the discontinuity, at least one anchor portion being an elongate structure having at least three apertures adapted to receive fasteners for affixing the elongate anchor portion to the bone; wherein in the elongate anchor portion the width of the anchor portion about the apertures first and second most distant from the bridge portion exceeds the minimum width of the anchor portion between such apertures; wherein in the elongate anchor portion the minimum rigidity of the anchor portion between the apertures second and third most distant from the bridge portion exceeds the minimum rigidity of the anchor portion between the apertures first and second most distant from the bridge portion; and wherein in the elongate anchor portion the separation between the apertures first and second most distant from the bridge portion exceeds the separation between the apertures second and third most distant from the bridge portion (b) reducing the discontinuity; and (c) affixing the bone plate to the bone so that the two anchor portions contact the bone on opposite sides of the discontinuity and the bridge portion spans the discontinuity.
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24. An elongate bone plate with varying rigidity for securing a discontinuity in a bone, the bone plate being formed of a bio-compatible material and comprising:
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a bridge portion configured to span the discontinuity in the bone; and two anchor portions extending outward from the bridge portion and configured to contact the bone on opposite sides of the discontinuity, at least one anchor portion being an elongate structure having at least three apertures adapted to receive fasteners for affixing the elongate anchor portion to the bone; wherein in the elongate anchor portion the rigidity of the material comprising the anchor portion is varied to vary the rigidity of the anchor portion; wherein in the elongate anchor portion the minimum rigidity of the anchor portion between the apertures second and third most distant from the bridge portion exceeds the minimum rigidity of the anchor portion between the apertures first and second most distant from the bridge portion; and wherein in the elongate anchor portion the separation between the apertures first and second most distant from the bridge portion exceeds the separation between the apertures second and third most distant from the bridge portion.
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25. An elongate bone plate with varying rigidity for securing a discontinuity in a bone, the bone plate being formed of a bio-compatible material and comprising:
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a bridge portion configured to span the discontinuity in the bone; and two anchor portions extending outward from the bridge portion and configured to contact the bone on opposite sides of the discontinuity, at least one anchor portion being an elongate structure having at least three apertures adapted to receive fasteners for affixing the elongate anchor portion to the bone; wherein in the elongate anchor portion the rigidity of the anchor portion about each aperture is substantially the same, and the minimum rigidity of the anchor portion between the apertures second and third most distant from the bridge portion exceeds the minimum rigidity of the anchor portion between the apertures first and second most distant from the bridge portion; and wherein in the elongate anchor portion the separation between the apertures first and second most distant from the bridge portion exceeds the separation between the apertures second and third most distant from the bridge portion.
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Specification