Fixation member for treating orthopedic fractures

• US 6,228,087 B1
• Filed: 01/31/2000
• Issued: 05/08/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Biomet Incorporated (Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: DePuy Orthopaedics Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Sanders, Roy W., Cornwall, G. Bryan, Fenaroli, Don
• Primary Examiner(s): Philogene, Pedro
• Application Number:
  US09/495,138
• Time in Patent Office: 463 Days
• Field of Search: 606/69, 606/70, 606/73, 606/104, 606/72, 606/75, 411/89, 411/132, 411/338
• US Class Current: 606/324
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/809 with bone-penetrating elements, e.g. blades or prongs bone staples A61B17/0642; intramedullary nails with a plate at an end A61B17/7233
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/842 Flexible wires, bands or straps A61B17/72, A61B17/82, A61B17/86 take precedence

Abstract

A fixation member includes a body portion having (i) an upper surface, (ii) a lower surface, and (iii) a perimeter edge interposed between the upper surface and the lower surface. The fixation member also includes a number of arm members each having a first end and a second end. The first end of each arm member being secured to the perimeter edge such that each arm member extends in a radial direction relative to the body portion. The fixation member further includes a penetration structure secured to the second end of each arm member such that each penetration structure extends in an axial direction relative to the body portion. The penetration structure is configured so as to penetrate below an outer surface of a bone when the fixation member is biased against the outer surface of the bone. The penetration structure is further configured to limit the penetration so that the lower surface of the body portion is prevented from contacting the outer surface of the bone when the fixation member is biased against the outer surface of the bone. An associated stop member is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A fixation member for treating orthopedic fractures, comprising:

a body portion having (i) an upper surface, (ii) a lower surface, and (iii) a perimeter edge interposed between said upper surface and said lower surface;

a number of arm members each having a first end and a second end, said first end of each arm member being secured to said perimeter edge such that each arm member extends in a radial direction relative to said body portion; and

a penetration structure secured to said second end of each arm member such that each penetration structure extends in an axial direction relative to said body portion,

wherein said penetration structure is (i) configured so as to penetrate below an outer surface of a bone when said fixation member is biased against said outer surface of said bone and (ii) further configured to limit said penetration so that said lower surface of said body portion is prevented from contacting said outer surface of said bone when said fixation member is biased against said outer surface of said bone.

2. The fixation member of claim 1, wherein:

said penetration structure is defined by a first substantially triangular shaped wall segment, a second substantially triangular shaped wall segment, a third substantially triangular wall segment, and a fourth substantially triangular shaped wall segment secured together so as to form a pyramid structure having a base and an apex,

said pyramid structure has a width W₁ and a thickness T₁, and

said width W₁ and said thickness T₁ of said pyramid structure increase from said apex to said base.

3. The fixation member of claim 1, wherein:

said arm members are spaced apart from one another along said perimeter edge such that a notch is defined between adjacent arm members.

4. The fixation member of claim 1, further comprising:

a ridge secured to and extending from said lower surface of said body portion, said ridge being configured so that an end surface of said ridge contacts said outer surface of said bone when said fixation member is biased against said outer surface of said bone.

5. The fixation member of claim 1, further comprising:

a fastener hole defined in said body portion.

6. The fixation member of claim 5, wherein:

said fastener hole has a center and an edge, and

said edge includes a convex wall portion which extends toward said center of said fastener hole.

7. The fixation member of claim 6, wherein:

said edge of said fastener hole further includes a land portion secured to a lower end of said convex wall portion.

8. The fixation member of claim 1, wherein:

said fastener hole is eccentrically located relative to a perpendicular central axis of said body portion.

9. The fixation member of claim 1, further comprising:

a wire hole defined in said body portion, said wire hole being spaced apart from said fastener hole.

10. The fixation member of claim 1, wherein:

each of said number of arm members extends in a radial direction relative to a perpendicular central axis of said body portion.

11. A fixation member for treating orthopedic fractures, comprising:

a body portion having (i) an upper surface, (ii) a lower surface, (iii) a perimeter edge interposed between said upper surface and said lower surface, and (iv) a fastener hole defined therein;

a number of arm members each having a first end and a second end, said first end of each arm member being secured to said perimeter edge such that (i) each arm member extends in a radial direction relative to a perpendicular central axis of said body portion and (ii) said arm members are spaced apart from one another along said perimeter edge such that a notch is defined between adjacent arm members; and

a penetration structure secured to each arm member such that each penetration structure extends in an axial direction relative to said perpendicular central axis of said body portion, each penetration structure being (i) configured so as to penetrate below an outer surface of a bone when said fixation member is biased against said outer surface of said bone and (ii) further configured to limit said penetration so that said lower surface of said body portion is prevented from contacting said outer surface of said bone when said fixation member is biased against said outer surface of said bone.

12. The fixation member of claim 11, wherein:

said penetration structure is defined by a first substantially triangular shaped wall segment, a second substantially triangular shaped wall segment, a third substantially triangular wall segment, and a fourth substantially triangular shaped wall segment secured together so as to form a pyramid structure having a base and an apex,

said pyramid structure has a width W₁ and a thickness T₁, and said width W₁ and said thickness T₁ of said pyramid structure increase from said apex to said base.

13. The fixation member of claim 11, further comprising:

a ridge secured to said lower surface of said body portion, said ridge being configured so that an end surface of said ridge contacts said outer surface of said bone when said fixation member is biased against said outer surface of said bone.

14. The fixation member of claim 11, wherein:

said fastener hole has a center and an edge, and

said edge includes a convex wall portion which extends toward said center of said fastener hole.

15. The fixation member of claim 14, wherein:

said edge of said fastener hole further includes a land portion secured to a lower end of said convex wall portion.

16. The fixation member of claim 11, wherein:

said fastener hole is eccentrically located relative to said perpendicular central axis of said body portion.

17. The fixation member of claim 11, further comprising:

a wire hole defined in said body portion, said wire hole being spaced apart from said fastener hole.

18. A fixation member for treating orthopedic fractures, comprising:

a body portion having (i) an upper surface, (ii) a lower surface, (iii) a perimeter edge interposed between said upper surface and said lower surface, and (iv) a fastener hole defined therein;

a first arm member having a length L₁, said first arm member being secured to said perimeter edge such that said first arm member extends in a radial direction relative to said body portion;

a second arm member having a length L₂ which is greater than length L₁, said second arm member being secured to said perimeter edge such that said second arm member extends in a radial direction relative to said body portion;

a first penetration structure secured to said first arm member such that said first penetration structure extends in an axial direction relative to said body portion; and

a second penetration structure secured to said second arm member such that said second penetration structure extends in an axial direction relative to said body portion,

wherein (i) said first penetration structure and said second penetration structure are both configured so as to penetrate below an outer surface of a bone when said fixation member is biased against said outer surface of said bone and (ii) said first penetration structure and said second penetration structure are both further configured to limit said penetration so that said lower surface of said body portion is prevented from contacting said outer surface of said bone when said fixation member is biased against said outer surface of said bone.

19. The fixation member of claim 18, further comprising:

a ridge secured to said lower surface of said body portion, said ridge being configured so that an end surface of said ridge contacts said outer surface of said bone when said fixation member is biased against said outer surface of said bone.

20. The fixation member of claim 18, wherein:

said fastener hole has a center and an edge, and

said edge includes a convex wall portion which extends toward said center of said fastener hole.

21. The fixation member of claim 20, wherein:

said edge of said fastener hole further includes a land portion secured to a lower end of said convex wall portion.

22. The fixation member of claim 18, wherein:

said fastener hole is eccentrically located relative to a perpendicular central axis of said body portion.

23. A fixation member for treating orthopedic fractures, comprising:

a body portion having (i) an upper surface, (ii) a lower surface, and (iii) a perimeter edge interposed between said upper surface and said lower surface;

a number of arm members secured to and extending outward from said perimeter edge of said body portion in a radial direction;

a penetration structure secured to each of said arm members such that each penetration structure extends in an axial direction relative to said body portion, each of said penetration structures being configured so as to penetrate below an outer surface of a bone when said fixation member is biased against said outer surface of said bone; and

a stop member connected to said body portion, said stop member being configured to limit said penetration of said penetration structures so that said lower surface of said body portion is prevented from contacting said outer surface of said bone when said fixation member is biased against said outer surface of said bone.

24. The fixation member of claim 23, wherein:

said stop member comprises a ridge extending from said lower surface of said body portion, and

said ridge is configured to contact said outer surface of said bone when said fixation member is biased against said outer surface of said bone.

25. The fixation member of claim 23, wherein:

said stop member is disposed on said penetration structure.

26. A fixation member for treating orthopedic fractures, comprising:

a body portion;

a number of arm members secured to and extending outward from said body portion;

a penetration structure secured to each of said arm members which is configured to penetrate below an outer surface of a bone when said fixation member is biased against said outer surface of said bone; and

a stop member connected to said body portion, which is configured to limit said penetration of said penetration structures when said fixation member is biased against an outer surface of said bone.