System and method for the fixation of bone fractures

• US 7,591,823 B2
• Filed: 02/17/2004
• Issued: 09/22/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: OrthoIP, LLC
• Original Assignee: Lagwire, LLC
• Inventors: Tipirneni, Kishore
• Primary Examiner(s): Willse; David H
• Assistant Examiner(s): Blanco; Javier G
• Application Number:
  US10/779,892
• Publication Number:
  US 20040172030A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,044 Days
• Field of Search: 606/72, 606/73, 606/74, 606/103
• US Class Current: 606/103
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/62 Ring frames, i.e. devices extending around the bones to be positioned A61B17/6433 , A61B17/66 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/68 Internal fixation devices , including fasteners and spinal fixators, even if a part thereof projects from the skin bone staples A61B17/0642
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/683 comprising bone transfixation elements, e.g. bolt with a distal cooperating element such as a nut
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/685 Elements to be fitted on the end of screws or wires, e.g. protective caps
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/746 the longitudinal elements coupled to a plate opposite the femoral head
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/842 Flexible wires, bands or straps A61B17/72, A61B17/82, A61B17/86 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8869 Tensioning devices

Abstract

The invention facilitates the fixation of bone fractures. In a particular embodiment, the head component includes a tip, cutting threads and mating threads which are inserted into the far cortex of the bone. A wire extends from the head component and exits from the near cortex. A cap device having a sawtooth inner surface is threaded over the wire having an inverse sawtooth outer surface such that the cap is restricted from backwards movement. Tension is then applied to the wire while the cap is tightened against or within the bone surface to thereby apply an appropriate amount of pressure between the surfaces of the fracture. The excess wire beyond the cap can then be removed.

Claims

1. A system for the fixation of a bone fracture having a first bone portion and a second bone portion, said system including:

a head component having a tip, cutting threads, fastening threads, and a tool attachment, wherein said cutting threads are operable for insertion into and termination within said first bone portion, wherein said fastening threads are operable for mating with a thread formed by said cutting thread, and wherein said tool attachment is operable to receive a cannulated driver;

a flexible wire comprised of a thin metal having a first end and a second end, wherein said first end of said wire mates with said head component, said wire having a first interface along at least a portion of said wire, wherein said first interface includes a sawtooth configuration having a plurality of sawteeth, wherein said flexible wire is bendable without the use of tools and is able to be cut with a wire cutter, wherein said sawtooth configuration is configured such that one side of each tooth is substantially perpendicular to a surface of said wire and the other side of said sawtooth is substantially angular to said surface of said wire; and

,

a cap which includes threads on an outside surface to facilitate rotating said cap into said second bone portion, and wherein said cap includes a substantially flat end to minimize said cap from protruding from said second bone portion, wherein said cap is configured to mate with said second end of said wire, said cap having a second interface component including an inverse sawtooth configuration on an inner surface of said cap such that said cap is configured to translate along said wire with a portion of said inverse sawtooth configuration sliding over a portion of said sawtooth configuration, wherein said sawtooth configuration and said inverse sawtooth configuration are configured to allow said cap to translate along said wire in only one direction, and wherein said inverse sawtooth configuration includes a plurality of inverse teeth, and wherein said cap includes a center hole for receiving said wire and additional openings for facilitating expansion of said cap.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said tip, said cutting threads and said fastening threads are each respectively replaceable with different types of said tip, different types of said cutting threads and different types of said fastening threads.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein said tool attachment mates with a tool head and is configured with a hex head.

4. The system of claim 3, further including a tensioner for applying tension to said wire.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein said tensioner includes a cannulated rod which receives said wire, said tensioner further includes gears having a third interface component which mates with said first interface of said wire to apply tension to said wire.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein said tensioner includes a gauge to determine the amount of tension.