Wrist fusion apparatus and method

• US 6,221,073 B1
• Filed: 08/20/1999
• Issued: 04/24/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Integra Lifesciences Corporation (Integra LifeSciences Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kinetikos Medical, Inc. (Integra LifeSciences Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Weiss, Arnold-Peter C., Collins, Michael S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Philogene, Pedro
• Application Number:
  US09/378,312
• Time in Patent Office: 613 Days
• Field of Search: 606/60, 606/61, 606/69, 606/70, 606/71, 606/72, 606/73
• US Class Current: 606/60
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8061 specially adapted for particular bones A61B17/70 and A61B17/74 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 606/902 Cortical plate specifically adapted for a particular bone

Abstract

A wrist fusion apparatus and method for attachment to and positioning at least one carpus area bone relative to a radius bone without an attachment to a metacarpal bone. The wrist fusion apparatus includes an elongated plate with a bottom and top side and with a proximal portion for positioning an attachment to a radius bone and a distal portion for positioning over and attachment to at least one carpus area of bone without extending over or attaching to a metacarpal bone. The proximal portion has a linear longitudinal axis and the distal portion is disposed along a curved longitudinal line extending from the linear longitudinal axis of the approximal portion. The plate includes fastener holes defined therethrough for receiving bone fasteners.

Claims

1. A method of fusing a wrist using a wrist fusion apparatus, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a wrist fusion apparatus comprising;

(i) an elongated plate having a bottom side for at least partially contacting bone and an opposite top side, said plate having a proximal portion for positioning at least partially over and attachment to a radius bone and a distal portion for positioning at least partially over and attachment to at least one carpus area bone without extending over or attaching to a metacarpal bone;

(ii) said proximal portion of said plate having a longitudinal axis, and said distal portion of said plate being disposed along a substantially curved line extending from the longitudinal axis of said proximal portion; and

(iii) said plate defining a plurality of holes therethrough wherein said proximal portion defines at least one hole for positioning over a radius bone and said distal portion defines at least one hole for positioning over at least one carpus area bone;

(b) positioning said proximal portion of said plate over and attaching said proximal portion to a radius bone;

(c) positioning said distal portion of said plate over and attaching said distal portion to at least one carpus area bone without attachment to a metacarpal bone.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising attaching said distal portion of said plate to a plurality of carpus area bones.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising attaching said distal portion of said plate to a lunate bone, a capitate bone, and a scaphoid bone.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said steps of paragraphs (b) and (c) are accomplished by fastening a bone screw through each of said holes.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said steps of paragraphs (b) and (c) comprise aligning said plate such that said bottom surface of said plate is in substantial contact with bone.

6. A method of fusing a wrist using a wrist fusion apparatus, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a wrist fusion apparatus comprising;

(i) an elongated plate having a bottom side for at least partially contacting bone and an opposite top side, said plate having a proximal portion for positioning over and attachment to a radius bone and a distal portion for positioning over and attachment to a plurality of carpus area bones without extending over or attaching to a metacarpal bone;

(ii) said distal portion of said plate defining a widened area such that said plate is substantially “

t”

shaped;

(iii) said proximal portion of said plate having a longitudinal axis, and said distal portion of said plate being disposed along a substantially curved line extending from the longitudinal axis of said proximal portion, wherein the curved line of said distal portion extends initially in a direction away from the longitudinal axis of said proximal portion and then in a direction back toward the longitudinal axis of said proximal portion; and

(iv) said plate defining a plurality of holes therethrough wherein said proximal portion defines at least one hole for positioning over a radius bone and said distal portion defines a plurality of holes, including at least one hole positioned through said widened area, for positioning at least one hole over each of a plurality of carpus area bones;

(b) positioning said proximal portion of said plate over and attaching said proximal portion to a radius bone by fastening a bone screw through said hole of said proximal portion to a radius bone; and

(c) positioning said distal portion of said plate over and attaching said distal portion to a plurality of carpus area bones without attachment to a metacarpal bone by fastening a bone screw through each of said holes of said distal portion to a plurality of carpus area bones including fastening at least one bone screw to a carpus area bone through said at least one hole of said widened area.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the step of paragraph (c) comprises fastening at least one bone screw through a hole of said distal portion to a capitate bone, fastening at least one bone screw through a hole of said distal portion to a lunate bone, and fastening at least one bone screw through a hole of said distal portion to a scaphoid bone.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the step of paragraph (c) comprises fastening at least one bone screw through a hole of said widened area of said distal portion to a lunate bone and fastening at least one bone screw through a hole of said widened area of said distal portion to a scaphoid bone.

9. The method of claim 6 wherein said steps of paragraphs (b) and (c) comprise aligning said plate such that said bottom surface of said plate is in substantial contact with bone.