Bone fixation system

• US 7,695,501 B2
• Filed: 06/16/2006
• Issued: 04/13/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Joel Gillard, Steven P. Horst, Thomas J. Ellis
• Original Assignee: Joel Gillard, Steven P. Horst, Thomas J. Ellis
• Inventors: Horst, Steven P., Gillard, Joel, Ellis, Thomas J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Robert; Eduardo C
• Assistant Examiner(s): SCHNEIDER, LYNNSY M
• Application Number:
  US11/454,613
• Publication Number:
  US 20070123883A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,397 Days
• Field of Search: 606/151, 606/276, 606/277, 606/280, 606/281, 606/286, 606/324, 606/605, 606/70, 606/71, 606/74, 606/75, 606/904, 606/905, 606/906, 606/913, 623/17.17, 623/17.18, 623/19.11
• US Class Current: 606/281
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8076 for the ribs or the sternum
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 606/904 Jaw plate
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 606/905 Rib or sternum plate

Abstract

Systems, including methods, apparatus, and kits, for fixing bones, such as rib bones, with bone plates.

Claims

1. A method of fixing a rib bone, comprising:

selecting a bone plate including first and second clip portions and a spanning portion, at least one of the clip portions defining a pair of aligned first and second apertures;

disposing the first aperture adjacent an outer surface of the rib bone and the second aperture adjacent an inner surface of the rib bone; and

securing the first and second clip portions to a rib bone using one or more fasteners, with each of the clip portions disposed adjacent generally opposing surfaces of the rib bone and with the spanning portion extending along the rib bone to each clip portion,

wherein the step of securing includes a step of placing a leading region of a fastener through the first aperture and into threaded engagement with the second aperture.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of securing places the fastener in threaded engagement with the second aperture but not the first aperture.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the pair of aligned apertures define a through axis that extends through both aligned apertures, and wherein the second aperture is elongated along an axis that is substantially orthogonal to the through axis.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of selecting a bone plate selects a bone plate that joins the spanning portion and at least one of the clip portions in a same monolithic structure.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the step of selecting a bone plate selects a bone plate that includes only one of the clip portions in the same monolithic structure.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the step of selecting a bone plate selects a monolithic bone plate that includes both of the clip portions and the spanning portion.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of selecting selects a bone plate with each clip portion including a pair of opposing arms, with each arm defining a plane, and with the spanning portion defining a plane oriented at least generally parallel to the plane defined by an arm of a clip portion.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein each clip portion includes a pair of opposing arms, further comprising a step of disposing the arms of each clip portion adjacent respective outer and inner surfaces of the rib bone and the spanning portion adjacent the outer surface of the rib bone.

9. A method of fixing a rib bone, comprising:

selecting a bone plate including first and second clip portions and a spanning portion, at least one of the clip portions defining a pair of aligned first and second apertures; and

securing the first and second clip portions to a rib bone using one or more fasteners, with each of the clip portions disposed adjacent generally opposing surfaces of the rib bone and with the spanning portion extending along the rib bone to each clip portion,

wherein the step of securing includes a step of placing a leading region of a fastener through the first aperture and into threaded engagement with the second aperture, and wherein the step of selecting a bone plate selects a bone plate that joins the spanning portion and at least one of the clip portions in a same monolithic structure.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the step of securing places the fastener in threaded engagement with the second aperture but not the first aperture.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the pair of aligned apertures define a through axis that extends through both aligned apertures, and wherein the second aperture is elongated along an axis that is substantially orthogonal to the through axis.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the step of selecting a bone plate selects a bone plate that includes only one of the clip portions in the same monolithic structure.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the step of selecting a bone plate selects a monolithic bone plate that includes both of the clip portions and the spanning portion.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the step of selecting selects a bone plate with each clip portion including a pair of opposing arms, with each arm defining a plane, and with the spanning portion defining a plane oriented at least generally parallel to the plane defined by an arm of a clip portion.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein each clip portion includes a pair of opposing arms, further comprising a step of disposing the arms of each clip portion adjacent respective outer and inner surfaces of the rib bone and the spanning portion adjacent the outer surface of the rib bone.

16. A method of fixing a rib bone, comprising:

selecting a bone plate including first and second clip portions and a spanning portion, the spanning portion and at least one of the clip portions being joined in a same monolithic structure; and

securing the first and second clip portions to a rib bone using one or more fasteners extending through one or more apertures of the clip portions, with each of the clip portions disposed adjacent generally opposing surfaces of the rib bone and with the spanning portion extending along the rib bone to each clip portion,

wherein at least one of the clip portions defines a pair of aligned first and second apertures, wherein the step of securing includes a step of placing a leading region of a fastener through the first aperture and into threaded engagement with the second aperture, and wherein the step of securing places the fastener in threaded engagement with the second aperture but not the first aperture,

further comprising a step of disposing the first aperture adjacent an outer surface of the rib bone and the second aperture adjacent an inner surface of the rib bone.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the step of selecting a bone plate selects a bone plate that includes only one of the clip portions in the same monolithic structure.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the step of selecting a bone plate selects a monolithic bone plate that includes both of the clip portions and the spanning portion.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the pair of aligned apertures define a through axis that extends through both aligned apertures, and wherein the second aperture is elongated along an axis that is substantially orthogonal to the through axis.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the step of selecting selects a bone plate with each clip portion including a pair of opposing arms, with each arm defining a plane, and with the spanning portion defining a plane oriented at least generally parallel to the plane defined by an arm of a clip portion.

21. The method of claim 16, wherein each clip portion includes a pair of opposing arms, further comprising a step of disposing the arms of each clip portion adjacent respective outer and inner surfaces of the rib bone and the spanning portion adjacent the outer surface of the rib bone.

22. A method of fixing a rib bone, comprising:

selecting a bone plate including first and second clip portions and a spanning portion, the spanning portion and at least one of the clip portions being joined in a same monolithic structure; and

securing the first and second clip portions to a rib bone using one or more fasteners extending through one or more apertures of the clip portions, with each of the clip portions disposed adjacent generally opposing surfaces of the rib bone and with the spanning portion extending along the rib bone to each clip portion,

wherein the step of selecting selects a bone plate with each clip portion including a pair of opposing arms, with each arm defining a plane, and with the spanning portion defining a plane oriented at least generally parallel to the plane defined by an arm of a clip portion.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the step of selecting a bone plate selects a bone plate that includes only one of the clip portions in the same monolithic structure.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the step of selecting a bone plate selects a monolithic bone plate that includes both of the clip portions and the spanning portion.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein each clip portion includes a pair of opposing arms, further comprising a step of disposing the arms of each clip portion adjacent respective outer and inner surfaces of the rib bone and the spanning portion adjacent the outer surface of the rib bone.

26. A method of fixing a rib bone, comprising:

selecting a bone plate including first and second clip portions and a spanning portion, the spanning portion and at least one of the clip portions being joined in a same monolithic structure; and

securing the first and second clip portions to a rib bone using one or more fasteners extending through one or more apertures of the clip portions, with each of the clip portions disposed adjacent generally opposing surfaces of the rib bone and with the spanning portion extending along the rib bone to each clip portion,

wherein each clip portion includes a pair of opposing arms, further comprising a step of disposing the arms of each clip portion adjacent respective outer and inner surfaces of the rib bone and the spanning portion adjacent the outer surface of the rib bone.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the step of selecting a bone plate selects a bone plate that includes only one of the clip portions in the same monolithic structure.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein the step of selecting a bone plate selects a monolithic bone plate that includes both of the clip portions and the spanning portion.

29. The method of claim 26, wherein at least one of the clip portions defines a pair of aligned first and second apertures, and wherein the pair of aligned apertures define a through axis that extends through both aligned apertures, and wherein the second aperture is elongated along an axis that is substantially orthogonal to the through axis.

30. A method of fixing a rib bone, comprising:

selecting a bone plate including first and second clip portions and a spanning portion, at least one of the clip portions defining a pair of aligned first and second apertures, each clip portion including a pair of opposing arms with each arm defining a plane, the spanning portion defining a plane oriented at least generally parallel to the plane defined by an arm of a clip portion; and

securing the first and second clip portions to a rib bone using one or more fasteners, with each of the clip portions disposed adjacent generally opposing surfaces of the rib bone and with the spanning portion extending along the rib bone to each clip portion,

wherein the step of securing includes a step of placing a leading region of a fastener through the first aperture and into threaded engagement with the second aperture, wherein the step of securing places the fastener in threaded engagement with the second aperture but not the first aperture, and wherein the step of selecting a bone plate selects a bone plate that joins the spanning portion and at least one of the clip portions in a same monolithic structure.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the pair of aligned apertures define a through axis that extends through both aligned apertures, and wherein the second aperture is elongated along an axis that is substantially orthogonal to the through axis.

32. The method of claim 30, wherein the step of selecting a bone plate selects a bone plate that includes only one of the clip portions in the same monolithic structure.

33. The method of claim 30, wherein the step of selecting a bone plate selects a monolithic bone plate that includes both of the clip portions and the spanning portion.

34. The method of claim 30, wherein each clip portion includes a pair of opposing arms, further comprising a step of disposing the arms of each clip portion adjacent respective outer and inner surfaces of the rib bone and the spanning portion adjacent the outer surface of the rib bone.