Adjustable bone plates

• US 9,308,033 B2
• Filed: 04/13/2015
• Issued: 04/12/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/22/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Acumed Llc (Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Acumed Llc (Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated)
• Inventors: Huebner, Randall J., Horst, Steven P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ramana, Anu
• Application Number:
  US14/685,359
• Publication Number:
  US 20150216574A1
• Time in Patent Office: 365 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1728 for holes for bone plates or plate screws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1735 for rasps or chisels
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1782 for the hand or wrist
• 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 17/8004 with means for distracting or compressing the bone or bones
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8033 having indirect contact with screw heads, or having contact with screw heads maintained with the aid of additional components, e.g. nuts, wedges or head covers
• 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 17/808 Instruments for holding or positioning bone plates, or for adjusting screw-to-plate locking mechanisms
• 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 an adjustable joint, and methods of using the bone plates to fix bones.

Claims

1. A method of clavicle fixation, the method comprising:

selecting a pre-assembled bone plate including a first plate member and a second plate member connected to one another at a joint having (a) an adjustable configuration in which an orientation of the first plate member and the second plate member relative to one another is adjustable about an axis normal to a plane that is tangential to a top surface of one of the plate members and (b) a fixed configuration in which the orientation is fixed, wherein the joint includes a threaded fastener in the threaded engagement with one of the plate members, the fastner rotatable to change the joint from the adjustable configuration to the fixed configuration;

placing the pre-assembled bone plate on a clavicle; and

securing each plate member of the pre-assembled bone plate to the clavicle such that the bone plate spans a discontinuity of the clavicle.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising a step of adjusting the orientation of the first plate member and the second plate member relative to one another.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of adjusting the orientation of the first plate member and the second plate member relative to one another is performed after the step of securing the bone plate to a clavicle.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of adjusting the orientation of the first plate member and the second plate member relative to one another includes a step of manipulating a tool that is removably engaged with at least one of the plate members.

5. The method of claim 2, further comprising a step of placing the joint in the fixed configuration after the step of adjusting the orientation of the first plate member and the second plate member relative to one another.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the orientation is adjustable about only a single axis.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of securing includes a step of placing a plurality of fasteners through openings defined by each plate member and into the clavicle.

8. A method of clavicle fixation, the method comprising:

selecting a pre-assembled bone plate including a first plate member and a second plate member connected to one another at a joint having (a) an adjustable configuration in which an orientation of the first plate member and the second plate member relative to one another is adjustable about an axis normal to a plane that is tangential to a top surface of one of the plate members and (b) a fixed configuration in which the orientation is fixed, wherein the joint includes a threaded fastener disposed in threaded engagement with one of the plate members, wherein the threaded fastener is rotatable to change the joint from the adjustable configuration to the fixed configuration, and wherein the joint is configured to be placed in a fixed configuration at each one of a continuous range of orientations of the first plate member relative to the second plate member

adjusting an orientation of the first plate member and the second plate member relative to one another at the joint of the pre-assembled bone plate about an axis normal to a plane that is tangential to a top surface of one of the plate members;

placing the pre-assembled bone plate on a clavicle; and

securing each plate member of the pre-assembled bone plate to the clavicle such that the bone plate spans a discontinuity of the clavicle.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the step of adjusting an orientation of the first plate member and the second plate member relative to one another is performed after the step of securing the bone plate to a clavicle.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising a step of placing the joint in a fixed configuration after the step of adjusting an orientation of the first plate member and the second plate member relative to one another.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the orientation of the first plate member and the second plate member relative to one another is adjustable about only a single axis.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the step of securing includes a step of placing a plurality of fasteners through openings defined by each plate member and into the clavicle.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the fasteners are bone screws.