Bone fixation system with opposed mounting portions

• US 9,775,657 B2
• Filed: 10/01/2012
• Issued: 10/03/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Acumed Llc (Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Acute Innovations LLC
• Inventors: Bernstein, Oren S., Gillard, Joel, Thorsell, Eric, Haislip, Sara, Loucks, Kyle A., Seykora, Andrew W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nobrega, Tatiana
• Assistant Examiner(s): Shirsat, Marcela I
• Application Number:
  US13/633,024
• Publication Number:
  US 20130090695A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,828 Days
• Field of Search: 606 70- 71, 606 74- 75, 606280-281, 606283-286, 606324, 606904-906, 606151, 606 96, 606101-102, 606 86 R, 606 86 B
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/064 Surgical staples, i.e. penetrating the tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0643 with separate closing member, e.g. for interlocking with staple
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1728 for holes for bone plates or plate screws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1792 for the ribs
• 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 17/8057 the interlocking form comprising a thread
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8076 for the ribs or the sternum
• 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 17/82 for bone cerclage apparatus for manipulating wires or straps A61B17/8861; wires, bands or straps other than cerclage A61B17/842
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/863 with thread interrupted or changing its form along shank, other than constant taper
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8863 Apparatus for shaping or cutting osteosynthesis equipment by medical personnel
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8869 Tensioning devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0645 being elastically deformed for insertion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/034 abutting on parts of the device itself
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/061 for measuring dimensions, e.g. length
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/92 coded with colour

Abstract

System, including methods, apparatus, and kits, for bone fixation using a fixation device including a mounting portion and a fastener that attaches to the mounting portion. In some embodiments, the fixation device may include first and second mounting portions configured to be disposed across a bone from each other and secured with a fastener that extends from one of the mounting portions, through the bone, and to the other mounting portion. The system also may include a tool to facilitate installation of the fixation device.

Claims

1. A method of fixing bone, the method comprising:

selecting a clip member including a first mounting portion and a second mounting portion interconnected by a collapsible portion, the first and second mounting portions defining respective first and second apertures;

disposing the clip member on a bone with the first and second mounting portions arranged adjacent opposite sides of the bone from each other, such that the bone extends along a path through the clip member;

applying compressive force to the clip member disposed on the bone to urge the first and second mounting portions toward each other and plastically deform the collapsible portion, wherein a central plane of the clip member is orthogonal to the path, and wherein the collapsible portion deforms to change a distance of at least one region of the collapsible portion from the central plane; and

securing the first and second mounting portions to the bone with a fastener extending from the first aperture, through the bone, and into the second aperture.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the clip member is part of a fixation device, and wherein a spanning portion of the fixation device extends along the bone from the clip member when the mounting portions are secured to the bone.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the clip member is a first clip member, wherein the spanning portion extends from the first clip member to a second clip member of the fixation device, and wherein the step of securing includes a step of securing each clip member to a rib bone such that the spanning portion spans a discontinuity in the rib bone.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of securing includes a step of directly attaching the fastener to each of the mounting portions.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein an orthogonal projection of the collapsible portion, onto a plane that is parallel to the path and perpendicular to at least one of the mounting portions, has a nonlinear portion that defines an angle, and wherein the angle decreases in the orthogonal projection as the mounting portions are urged toward each other.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the collapsible portion includes a connecting member that interconnects the first mounting portion and the second mounting portion, wherein the connecting member has an inner surface region to face the bone and an outer surface region opposite the inner surface region, wherein the connecting member also has a pair of lateral wall regions opposite one another and each extending from the inner surface region to the outer surface region, and wherein the connecting member has a greater average width across the connecting member between the inner and outer surface regions than between the pair of lateral walls regions.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the collapsible portion includes a connecting member, and wherein a distance between the connecting member and the central plane varies as the connecting member extends from the first mounting portion to the second mounting portion.

8. A method of fixing bone, the method comprising:

selecting a clip member including a first mounting portion and a second mounting portion interconnected by a collapsible portion, the first and second mounting portions defining respective first and second apertures;

disposing the clip member on a bone with the first and second mounting portions arranged adjacent opposite sides of the bone from each other, such that the bone extends along a path through the clip member;

applying compressive force to the clip member disposed on the bone to urge the first and second mounting portions toward each other and plastically deform the collapsible portion, wherein an orthogonal projection of the collapsible portion, onto a plane that is parallel to the path and perpendicular to at least one of the mounting portions, has a nonlinear portion that defines an angle, and wherein the angle decreases in the orthogonal projection as the mounting portions are urged toward each other; and

securing the first and second mounting portions to the bone with a fastener extending from the first aperture, through the bone, and into the second aperture.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the clip member is part of a fixation device, and wherein a spanning portion of the fixation device extends along the bone from the clip member when the mounting portions are secured to the bone.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the clip member is a first clip member, wherein the spanning portion extends from the first clip member to a second clip member of the fixation device, and wherein the step of securing includes a step of securing each clip member to a rib bone such that the spanning portion spans a discontinuity in the rib bone.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the step of securing includes a step of directly attaching the fastener to each of the mounting portions.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the collapsible portion includes a connecting member that interconnects the first mounting portion and the second mounting portion, wherein the connecting member has an inner surface region to face the bone and an outer surface region opposite the inner surface region, wherein the connecting member also has a pair of lateral wall regions opposite one another and each extending from the inner surface region to the outer surface region, and wherein the connecting member has a greater average width across the connecting member between the inner and outer surface regions than between the pair of lateral walls regions.