Plate for joining a pelvic fracture

• US 6,340,362 B1
• Filed: 07/19/2000
• Issued: 01/22/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Steinbeis GmbH & Company KG FüR Technologietransfer (Steinbeis-Stiftung Fã¼R Wirtschaftsfã¶Rderung)
• Original Assignee: Impaq GmbH Medizintechnik
• Inventors: Zeidler, Hubert, Pierer, Wolfgang
• Primary Examiner(s): REIP, DAVID OWEN
• Application Number:
  US09/619,031
• Time in Patent Office: 552 Days
• Field of Search: 606/53, 606/61, 606/69, 606/70, 606/71, 606/54, 606/55, 606/60
• US Class Current: 606/71
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8066 for pelvic reconstruction

Abstract

A plate is provided for joining a fracture of the pelvis. The plate is securable on either side of the fracture by fasteners to the pelvic bone portions to be connected. The plate is formed of at least two parts arranged along an axial direction. A first engaging portion is provided on one part for connecting the parts, which engages with a second engaging portion provided on the other part, such that the two parts are secured to one another in an axial direction and in a transverse direction to the plate plane. The two parts may undergo limited pivotal movement relative to one another.

Claims

1. A plate for joining a fracture of the pelvis, wherein said plate can be fastened on either side of said fracture by means of fastening means to pelvic bone portions to be connected, said plate comprising:

at least two parts arranged along an axial direction of said plate,

a first engaging means provided on one of said parts,

second engaging means provided on the other of said parts,

wherein said first engaging means and said second engaging means are intended to connect said two parts with each other, and wherein said first and second engaging means are formed such that said two parts are secured to one another in said axial direction and in a transverse direction to a plate plane, and that said two parts are moveable relative to one another in a limited pivotal range about said axial direction.

2. The plate of claim 1, wherein said parts have a limited pivotal movement about a first pivot axis running transversely to said plate plane.

3. The plate of claim 1, wherein said parts have a limited pivotal movement about a second pivot axis running in said plate plane transversely to said axial direction.

4. The plate of claim 1, wherein said first engaging means comprises at least one surface oriented substantially transversely to said plate plane and transversely to said axial direction, which engages behind a surface of the second engaging means oriented substantially transversely to said plate plane and transversely to said axial direction and wherein said surfaces are arranged to have play therebetween.

5. The plate of claim 1, wherein an end face of one of said parts is formed to be convex and an opposing end face of the other part is formed to be concave.

6. The plate of claim 1, wherein said first engaging means comprise a projection formed at one end of the one of said parts and said second engaging means comprise a recess formed at one end of the other of said parts, wherein said projection engages said recess with play therebetween.

7. The plate of claim 6, wherein said projection has a substantially T-shaped cross section and said recess has a substantially C-shaped cross section.

8. The plate of claim 7, wherein a front portion of said projection extends in said plate plane transversely to said axial direction.

9. The plate of claim 1, wherein said first engaging means comprise a projection formed at one end of the one of said parts and said second engaging means comprise a recess formed at one end of the other of said parts, wherein said projection engages said recess with play therebetween and wherein said recess is laterally open.

10. The plate of claim 1, wherein said first engaging means comprise a projection formed at one end of the one of said parts and said second engaging means comprise a recess formed at one end of the other of said parts, wherein said projection engages said recess with play therebetween and wherein said recess is formed to be convex at a backside.

11. The plate of claim 1, wherein said first engaging means and said second engaging means are formed in dovetail shape.

12. The plate of claim 1, wherein said plate is made of titanium.