Bone plates with slots
First Claim
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1. A method of bone fixation, comprising:
- selecting a bone plate including a wider head portion connected to a narrower body portion, the bone plate defining a long axis and a longitudinal slot, the longitudinal slot defining a long axis that is at least substantially parallel to the long axis defined by the bone plate, the bone plate also defining a plurality of openings disposed in the head portion and further defining a transverse slot disposed generally between the longitudinal slot and the plurality of openings; and
attaching the bone plate to at least one bone with fasteners received in the longitudinal slot, the plurality of openings, and the transverse slot,wherein the bone plate has opposing inner and outer surfaces, wherein an opposing surface defines a plane. wherein the long axis defined by the longitudinal slot is included in a plane that is orthogonal to the plane defined by the opposing surface and that bisects the transverse slot.
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Abstract
Bone plates having slots configured to permit positioning of the bone plates on bone, and methods of using the bone plates for bone fixation.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method of bone fixation, comprising:
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selecting a bone plate including a wider head portion connected to a narrower body portion, the bone plate defining a long axis and a longitudinal slot, the longitudinal slot defining a long axis that is at least substantially parallel to the long axis defined by the bone plate, the bone plate also defining a plurality of openings disposed in the head portion and further defining a transverse slot disposed generally between the longitudinal slot and the plurality of openings; and attaching the bone plate to at least one bone with fasteners received in the longitudinal slot, the plurality of openings, and the transverse slot, wherein the bone plate has opposing inner and outer surfaces, wherein an opposing surface defines a plane. wherein the long axis defined by the longitudinal slot is included in a plane that is orthogonal to the plane defined by the opposing surface and that bisects the transverse slot. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of bone fixation, comprising:
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selecting a bone plate defining a long axis and a longitudinal slot, the longitudinal slot defining a long axis that is at least substantially parallel to the long axis defined by the bone plate, the bone plate also defining a plurality of openings and further defining a transverse slot disposed generally between the longitudinal slot and the plurality of openings; and attaching the bone plate to at least one bone with fasteners received in the longitudinal slot, the plurality of openings, and the transverse slot, wherein the bone plate has opposing inner and outer surfaces, wherein an opposing surface defines a plane, wherein the long axis defined by the longitudinal slot is included in a plane that is orthogonal to the plane defined by the opposing surface and that bisects the transverse slot, wherein the transverse slot has opposing sides that each extend to opposing ends of the transverse slot, wherein the transverse slot extends along a path defined centrally between the opposing sides, and wherein an orthogonal projection of the path onto the plane defined by the opposing surface is arcuate. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method of bone fixation, comprising:
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selecting a bone plate defining a long axis, a first opening, a plurality of second openings, and a transverse slot disposed generally between the first opening and the plurality of second openings; and attaching the bone plate to at least one bone with fasteners received in the first opening, the plurality of second openings, and the transverse slot, wherein the bone plate has opposing inner and outer surfaces, wherein an opposing surface defines a plane, wherein the long axis defined by the longitudinal slot is included in a plane that is orthogonal to the plane defined by the opposing surface and that bisects the transverse slot, wherein the transverse slot has opposing sides that each extend to opposing ends of the transverse slot, wherein the transverse slot extends along a path defined centrally between the opposing sides, and wherein an orthogonal projection of the path onto the plane defined by the opposing surface is arcuate. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
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Specification