Bone plates with movable locking elements
First Claim
1. A device for bone fixation, comprising:
- a bone plate includinga plate body defining a longitudinal axis and also defining a plurality of openings configured to receive fasteners that secure the plate body to bone, the plurality of openings including a pair of elongate openings each elongated at least substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis; and
at least two discrete locking elements each defining a through-hole disposed or disposable under a respective elongate opening for placement closer to bone than the respective elongate opening, each locking element being configured to be disposed in threaded engagement with a fastener received by the locking element at the through-hole from the respective elongate opening, each locking element being connected slidably to the plate body to permit sliding of such locking element at least substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis, in the absence of the fastener, to permit movement of the through-hole of the locking element along the respective elongate opening,wherein each elongate opening includes a sloped surface, wherein rotational advancement of a head of the fastener against the sloped surface of the elongate opening causes net motion of the fastener, the locking element, and bone with which the fastener is configured to engage, in a direction at least substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Device and method for bone fixation. The device may comprise a bone plate including a plate body and a locking element. The plate body may define a plurality of openings configured to receive fasteners that secure the plate body to bone. The plurality of openings may include an elongate opening. The locking element, in turn, may define a through-hole disposed under the elongate opening for placement closer to bone than the elongate opening. The locking element may be configured to be disposed in threaded engagement with a fastener received by the locking element at the through-hole from the elongate opening. The locking element may be connected slidably to the plate body, in the absence of the fastener, to permit movement of the through-hole along the elongate opening.
75 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A device for bone fixation, comprising:
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a bone plate including a plate body defining a longitudinal axis and also defining a plurality of openings configured to receive fasteners that secure the plate body to bone, the plurality of openings including a pair of elongate openings each elongated at least substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis; and at least two discrete locking elements each defining a through-hole disposed or disposable under a respective elongate opening for placement closer to bone than the respective elongate opening, each locking element being configured to be disposed in threaded engagement with a fastener received by the locking element at the through-hole from the respective elongate opening, each locking element being connected slidably to the plate body to permit sliding of such locking element at least substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis, in the absence of the fastener, to permit movement of the through-hole of the locking element along the respective elongate opening, wherein each elongate opening includes a sloped surface, wherein rotational advancement of a head of the fastener against the sloped surface of the elongate opening causes net motion of the fastener, the locking element, and bone with which the fastener is configured to engage, in a direction at least substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A device for bone fixation, comprising:
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a bone plate including a plate body defining a longitudinal axis and also defining a plurality of openings configured to receive fasteners that secure the plate body to bone, the plurality of openings including an elongate opening elongated at least substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis; and a locking element defining a through-hole disposed or disposable under the elongate opening for placement closer to bone than the elongate opening, the locking element being configured to be disposed in threaded engagement with a fastener received by the locking element at the through-hole from the elongate opening, the locking element being connected slidably to the plate body to permit sliding of the locking element at least substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis, in the absence of the fastener, to permit movement of the through-hole along the elongate opening, wherein the locking element has only one through-hole configured to be disposed in threaded engagement with a fastener received by the locking element from the elongate opening, and wherein the elongate opening includes a sloped surface, wherein rotational advancement of a head of the fastener against the sloped surface of the elongate opening causes net motion of the fastener, the locking element, and bone with which the fastener is configured to engage, in a direction at least substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A device for bone fixation, comprising:
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a bone plate including a plate body defining a longitudinal axis and also defining a plurality of openings configured to receive fasteners that secure the plate body to bone, the plurality of openings including an elongate opening that is elongated at least substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis; and a locking element defining a through-hole disposed or disposable under the elongate opening for placement closer to bone than the elongate opening, the locking element being configured to be disposed in threaded engagement with the fastener received by the locking element at the through-hole from the elongate opening, the locking element being connected slidably to the plate body to permit sliding of the locking element at least substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis, in the absence of the fastener, to permit movement of the through-hole along the elongate opening, wherein the elongate opening includes a sloped surface, wherein rotational advancement of a head of the fastener against the sloped surface of the elongate opening causes net motion of the fastener, the locking element, and bone with which the fastener is configured to engage, in a direction at least substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification