Method and apparatus for mandibular osteosynthesis

• US 6,325,803 B1
• Filed: 09/10/1999
• Issued: 12/04/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Zimmer Biomet CMF and Thoracic, LLC (Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Walter Lorenz Surgical, Inc. (Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Stone, Kevin T., Duncan, Jeffrey A., Schumacher, Brian S.
• Primary Examiner(s): REIP, DAVID OWEN
• Application Number:
  US09/394,287
• Time in Patent Office: 816 Days
• Field of Search: 606/60, 606/69, 606/70, 606/71, 606/73, 606/61
• US Class Current: 606/71
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8047 wherein the additional element surrounds the screw head in the plate hole A61B17/8052 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8071 for the jaw
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8615 at the central region of the screw head
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/888 the driver bit acting on the central region of the screw head
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8888 at its central region
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 606/904 Jaw plate

Abstract

A system for mandibular reconstruction generally includes an elongated locking plate having a plurality of internally threaded apertures and a plurality of fasteners. Each fastener includes a main body portion having an upper threaded shaft and a lower threaded shaft. The lower threaded shaft is adapted to engage the mandible. Each fastener further includes a removable head portion internally threaded for engaging the upper shaft portion and externally threaded for engaging a selected one of the internally threaded apertures of the locking plate. In the preferred embodiment, the thread leads of the head portion and lower shaft of the main body portion are identical. A method of mandibular osteosynthesis utilizes the system of osteosynthesis and generally comprises the steps of temporarily securing the elongated locking plate to the mandible with at least one fastener by engaging the threads of the lower portion with the mandible and threadably engaging the head with the locking plate, unthreading the head portion from the main body of the fastener to thereby allow displacement of the locking plate from the mandible without removing the fasteners from the mandible, performing a surgical procedure (e.g., removal of a cancerous growth), and re-securing the elongated plate to the fastener with the removable head portion.

Claims

1. A system for osteosynthesis of a mandible, the system comprising:

an elongated locking plate having a plurality of internally threaded apertures;

an auxiliary reinforcement member extending from the elongated locking plate;

a first fastener securing a first end of the auxiliary reinforcement member to the elongated locking plate; and

a second fastener securing a second end of the auxiliary reinforcement member to the elongated locking plate;

wherein the auxiliary reinforcement member includes an arcuate portion interconnecting the first and second ends.

2. The system for osteosynthesis of a mandible of claim 1, wherein the first fastener threadably engages a first one of the plurality of internally threaded apertures.

3. The system for osteosynthesis of a mandible of claim 1, wherein the second fastener has a main body portion and a removable head member, the main body portion having an externally threaded lower shaft portion and an upper shaft portion, the removable head member being externally threaded for engaging a second one of the plurality of internally threaded apertures, the head member and the first fastener being interchangeable.

4. The system for osteosynthesis of a mandible of claim 1, wherein the auxiliary reinforcement member includes a plate attachment portion and a bone attachment portion, the bone attachment portion oriented parallel to and stepped from the plate attachment portion.

5. The system for osteosynthesis of a mandible of claim 4, wherein the plate attachment portion and the bone attachment portion are interconnected by an intermediate portion oriented perpendicular to the bone attachment portion and the plate attachment portion.

6. A system for osteosynthesis of a mandible, the system comprising:

an elongated locking plate having a plurality of internally threaded apertures;

an auxiliary reinforcement member extending from the elongated locking plate, the auxiliary reinforcement member including a plate attachment portion and a bone attachment portion, the bone attachment portion oriented parallel to and stepped from the plate attachment portion; and

a first fastener securing the auxiliary reinforcement member to the elongated locking plate;

wherein the plate attachment portion and the bone attachment portion are interconnected by an intermediate portion oriented perpendicular to the bone attachment portion and the plate attachment portion.

7. The system for osteosynthesis of a mandible of claim 6, wherein the first fastener threadably engages a first one of the plurality of internally threaded apertures.

8. The system for osteosynthesis of a mandible of claim 6, wherein the auxiliary reinforcement member includes a first end attached to the elongated locking plate with the first fastener and a second end attached to the elongated locking plate with a second fastener.

9. The system for osteosynthesis of a mandible of claim 6, wherein the auxiliary reinforcement member includes first and second ends attached to the elongated locking plate and an arcuate portion interconnecting the first and second ends.

10. The system for osteosynthesis of a mandible of claim 6, further including a second fastener for attaching the elongated plate member to the bone, the second fastener having a main body portion and a removable head member, the main body portion having an externally threaded lower shaft portion and an upper shaft portion, the removable head member being externally threaded for engaging a second one of the plurality of internally threaded apertures, the head member and the first fastener being interchangeable.

11. A method of surgically repairing a bone, the method including the steps of:

providing an elongated locking plate including a plurality of apertures;

providing an auxiliary reinforcement member; and

securing the auxiliary reinforcement member to the elongated locking plate with a first fastener and a second fastener such that the auxiliary reinforcement member extends from the elongated locking plate, the first fastener threadabiy engaging a first aperture of the elongated locking plate, the second fastener including a removable head and upper shaft portion, the removable head threadably engaging a second aperture of the elongated locking plate and threadably engaging the upper shaft portion.

12. The method of surgically repairing a bone of claim 11, further comprising the step of removing the removable head from the upper shaft.

13. A system for osteosynthesis of a mandible, the system comprising:

an elongated locking plate having a plurality of internally threaded apertures;

an auxiliary reinforcement member extending from the elongated locking plate;

a first fastener securing the auxiliary reinforcement member to the elongated locking plate, the first fastener threadably engaging a first one of the plurality of internally threaded apertures;

a second fastener for attaching the elongated plate member to the mandible, the second fastener having a main body portion and a removable head member, the main body portion having an externally threaded lower shaft portion and an upper shaft portion, the removable head member being externally threaded for engaging a second one of the plurality of internally threaded apertures, the head member and the first fastener being interchangeable.