Bone plates with slots

• US 7,537,604 B2
• Filed: 11/19/2003
• Issued: 05/26/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Acumed Llc (Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Acumed Llc (Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated)
• Inventors: Huebner, Randall J.
• Primary Examiner(s): RAMANA, ANURADHA
• Application Number:
  US10/717,015
• Publication Number:
  US 20040102775A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,015 Days
• Field of Search: 606 69- 73, 606/60, 606/61
• US Class Current: 606/281
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/80 Cortical plates , i.e. bone plates; Instruments for holding or positioning cortical plates, or for compressing bones attached to cortical plates
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8014 the extension or compression force being caused by interaction of the plate hole and the screws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8052 immobilised relative to screws by interlocking form of the heads and plate holes, e.g. conical or threaded
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8061 specially adapted for particular bones A61B17/70 and A61B17/74 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8085 with pliable or malleable elements or having a mesh-like structure, e.g. small strips A61B17/8071, A61B17/8076 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/061 for measuring dimensions, e.g. length
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/067 for measuring angles

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.

Claims

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.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of selecting a bone plate includes a step of selecting a bone plate including a transverse slot having 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 protection of the path onto the plane defined by the opposing surface is arcuate.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of selecting a bone plate includes a step of selecting a bone plate in which the plurality of openings are arrayed transversely to the long axis defined by the bone plate.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the longitudinal slot and the transverse slot are a first pair of slots, wherein the step of selecting includes a step of selecting a bone plate in which the head portion defines a second pair of slots, and wherein the second pair of slots extend transversely to one another.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of selecting includes a step of selecting a bone plate in which the transverse slot has a length and a width, and wherein the length is about twice the width.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of attaching the bone plate to at least one bone includes a step of attaching the bone plate to a distal portion of a radius bone.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising a step of selecting a bone having at least one discontinuity defining first and second portions of the bone, wherein the step of attaching includes (a) a step of placing a fastener into the first portion of the bone from the transverse slot, (b) a step of attaching the second portion of the bone to the bone plate using one or more fasteners received in one or more of the plurality of openings, (c) a step of adjusting an alignment of the first and second portions of the bone by relative movement of the bone plate and the first portion, the relative movement repositioning the fastener along the transverse slot while the bone plate is attached to the second portion of the bone, and (d) a step of fixing the alignment of the first and second portions of the bone using the bone plate after the step of adjusting.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising a step of attaching a handle to the bone plate.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the step of attaching a handle includes a step of disposing the handle in threaded engagement with the bone plate.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising a step of disconnecting the handle from the bone plate.

11. A method of bone fixation, comprising:

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.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of selecting a bone plate includes a step of selecting a bone plate in which the plurality of openings are arrayed transversely to the long axis defined by the bone plate.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the longitudinal slot and the transverse slot are a first pair of slots, wherein the step of selecting includes a step of selecting a bone plate defining a second pair of slots, and wherein the second pair of slots extend transversely to one another.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of selecting includes a step of selecting a bone plate in which the transverse slot has a length and a width, and wherein the length is at least about twice the width.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of attaching the bone plate to at least one bone includes a step of attaching the bone plate to a distal portion of a radius bone.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising a step of selecting a bone having at least one discontinuity defining first and second portions of the bone, wherein the step of attaching includes (a) a step of placing a fastener into the first portion of the bone from the transverse slot, (b) a step of attaching the second portion of the bone to the bone plate using one or more fasteners received in one or more of the plurality of openings, (c) a step of adjusting an alignment of the first and second portions of the bone by relative movement of the bone plate and the first portion, the relative movement repositioning the fastener along the transverse slot while the bone plate is attached to the second portion of the bone, and (d) a step of fixing the alignment of the first and second portions of the bone using the bone plate after the step of adjusting.

17. The method of claim 11, further comprising a step of attaching a handle to the bone plate.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of attaching a handle includes a step of disposing the handle in threaded engagement with the bone plate.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising a step of disconnecting the handle from the bone plate.

20. A method of bone fixation, comprising:

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.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the step of selecting includes a step of selecting a bone plate in which the transverse slot has a length and a width, and wherein the length is about twice the width.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein the step of attaching the bone plate to at least one bone includes a step of attaching the bone plate to a distal portion of a radius bone.