Handle assembly having a radiopaque region to facilitate positioning a bone plate on bone
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of bone fixation, comprising:
- fastening a handle assembly to a bone plate defining a long axis and a plane, the handle assembly including an extension portion connected to a graspable grip portion, the extension portion providing a radiopaque alignment region, wherein, when the handle assembly is fastened to the bone plate, orthogonally projecting the bone plate and the alignment region onto the plane results in the alignment region being positioned coaxially to the long axis of the bone plate and at least substantially entirely outside a perimeter of the bone plate;
generating one or more radiographic images of the alignment region disposed above a shaft portion of a long bone while the bone plate is disposed on an end portion of the long bone that is wider than the shaft portion;
adjusting an orientation of the bone plate on the long bone based on a relative alignment of the alignment region and the shaft portion in the radiographic images;
securing the bone plate to the long bone; and
disconnecting the handle assembly from the bone plate.
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Abstract
Bone fixation system, including methods, apparatus, and kits, and comprising a bone plate and at least one instrument that attaches to the bone plate and provides at least one radiopaque region to facilitate positioning the bone plate on bone visualized by radiographic imaging. The instrument may be a handle assembly and/or a targeting guide.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method of bone fixation, comprising:
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fastening a handle assembly to a bone plate defining a long axis and a plane, the handle assembly including an extension portion connected to a graspable grip portion, the extension portion providing a radiopaque alignment region, wherein, when the handle assembly is fastened to the bone plate, orthogonally projecting the bone plate and the alignment region onto the plane results in the alignment region being positioned coaxially to the long axis of the bone plate and at least substantially entirely outside a perimeter of the bone plate; generating one or more radiographic images of the alignment region disposed above a shaft portion of a long bone while the bone plate is disposed on an end portion of the long bone that is wider than the shaft portion; adjusting an orientation of the bone plate on the long bone based on a relative alignment of the alignment region and the shaft portion in the radiographic images; securing the bone plate to the long bone; and disconnecting the handle assembly from the bone plate. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method of bone fixation, comprising:
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selecting a bone plate defining a long axis; fastening a handle assembly to the bone plate, the handle assembly including an extension portion connected to a graspable grip portion, the extension portion providing a radiopaque alignment region that is offset from the bone plate along the long axis in a direction away from a head portion of the bone plate; generating radiographic images of the alignment region disposed above a shaft portion of a long bone while the bone plate is disposed on an end portion of the long bone, such that the alignment region overlaps the shaft portion in the radiographic images; positioning the alignment region to be substantially parallel to the shaft portion of the long bone in one or more of the radiographic images, based on a relative alignment, at least predominantly outside a perimeter of the bone plate, of the alignment region and the shaft portion in the one or more radiographic images; securing the bone plate to the long bone; and disconnecting the handle assembly from the bone plate, wherein the bone plate has an end formed by a body portion of the bone plate, wherein a base of the handle assembly is fastened at a site of the bone plate that is spaced from the end such that one or more apertures of the bone plate are disposed between the site and the end, and wherein a length of the extension portion between the base and the alignment region extends along a path having a transverse offset such that the length of the extension portion does not obstruct placement of fasteners into the one or more apertures. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of bone fixation, comprising:
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selecting a bone plate defining a plane and including a head portion connected to an elongated body portion, the body portion being narrower than the head portion and defining a long axis; selecting a handle assembly including a base portion, a graspable grip portion, and an extension portion connecting the grip portion to the base portion, the extension portion providing a radiopaque alignment region; fastening the bone plate to the handle assembly at the base portion; disposing the bone plate on an end portion of a long bone and the alignment region above a shaft portion of the long bone, with the alignment region and the shaft portion defining respective long axes that are substantially coplanar to each other, and such that orthogonally projecting the long bone, the bone plate, and the alignment region onto the plane results in the alignment region being positioned coaxially to the long axis of the bone plate and flanked on opposite sides by regions of the long bone that are outside a perimeter of the bone plate; securing the bone plate to the long bone; and disconnecting the handle assembly from the bone plate, wherein the bone plate has an end formed by the body portion, wherein the base portion of the handle assembly is fastened at a site of the bone plate that is spaced from the end such that one or more apertures of the bone plate are disposed between the site and the end, and wherein a length of the handle assembly between the base portion and the alignment region extends along a path having a transverse offset such that the length of the handle assembly does not obstruct placement of fasteners into the one or more apertures. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of bone fixation with a bone plate and a handle assembly, the bone plate defining a plane, the handle assembly including a base portion, a graspable head portion, and a stem portion extending from the base portion to the head portion on a nonlinear path to form a bend, the method comprising:
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generating with a beam of radiation one or more radiographic images of the bone plate fastened to the handle assembly and disposed on a bone, wherein a predefined relative position of the bend of the stem portion and a feature of the bone plate, in a radiographic image, signifies that an axis of the beam of radiation is orthogonal to the plane; adjusting the axis of the beam, a position of the bone, or both, based on the one or more radiographic images, to produce the predefined relative position; securing the bone plate to the bone; and disconnecting the handle assembly from the bone plate. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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Specification