Orthopedic fixation system including plate element with threaded holes having divergent axes

• US 20040153073A1
• Filed: 01/22/2004
• Published: 08/05/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Depuy Products Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Hand Innovations LLC (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Orbay, Jorge L.
• Application Number:
  US10/762,695
• Publication Number:
  US 20040153073A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/69
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1725 for applying transverse screws or pins through intramedullary nails or pins
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1728 for holes for bone plates or plate screws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1782 for the hand or wrist
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7233 with special means of locking the nail to the bone
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7291 for small bones, e.g. in the foot, ankle, hand or wrist
• 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 17/8042 the additional component being a cover over the screw head
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8057 the interlocking form comprising a thread
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8061 specially adapted for particular bones A61B17/70 and A61B17/74 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/863 with thread interrupted or changing its form along shank, other than constant taper

Abstract

A fracture fixation system includes a device with a plate portion intended to be positioned against bone. The plate portion includes a plurality of threaded holes defining a respective number of axes which are divergent. Pegs coupled within the threaded holes extend to follow the contour of subchondral bone and provide a framework for support for fracture healing.

Claims

1. An orthopedic fixation plate, comprising:

a substantially rigid T-shaped plate including a head portion and a longitudinally extending shaft portion, said head portion being angled upward relative to said shaft portion,

said head portion having upper and lower surfaces and defining an arrangement threaded holes adapted to individually receive therein pegs having threaded heads,

said head portion defining a first surface area on a first side of said arrangement of threaded holes of said head portion, opposite said shaft portion, and a second surface area on a second side of said arrangement of threaded holes of said head portion which is on a same side as said shaft portion, said first surface area being larger than said second surface area.

2. An orthopedic fixation plate according to claim 1, wherein:

said threaded holes define axes which are oblique relative to each other.

3. An orthopedic fixation plate according to claim 1, wherein:

said threaded holes define axes which diverge away from said lower surface of said head portion.

4. An orthopedic fixation plate, comprising:

a generally T-shaped rigid plate having an upper surface and a lower surface, said plate having a head portion and a shaft portion, said head portion being angled upward relative to said shaft portion,

said head portion defining a plurality of threaded holes adapted to individually receive pegs therein having threaded heads, said threaded holes defining a plurality of axes at least two of which are oblique relative to each other.

5. An orthopedic fixation plate according to claim 4, wherein:

said threaded holes define at least three axes which are oblique relative to each other.

6. An orthopedic fixation plate according to claim 4, wherein:

axes through all of said threaded holes in said head portion are oblique relative to each other.

7. An orthopedic fixation plate according to claim 4, wherein:

said shaft portion includes at least one hole for receiving a fastener.

8. An orthopedic fixation plate according to claim 4, wherein:

said head portion and said shaft portion are sized and shaped for placement on the distal volar radius bone.

9. An orthopedic fixation device, comprising:

a generally flat head portion and a longitudinally extending shaft portion angled relative to said head portion, said head portion having upper and lower surfaces and defining a plurality of threaded holes adapted to individually receive therein pegs having threaded heads, said threaded holes defining a plurality of axes at least two of which are oblique relative to each other and at least one of which is oblique relative to said lower surface generally surrounding its corresponding threaded hole.

10. An orthopedic fixation device according to claim 9, wherein:

said shaft portion includes at least one hole for receiving a fastener.

11. An orthopedic fixation device according to claim 9, wherein:

said at least one hole in said shaft portion is non-threaded.

12. An orthopedic fixation device according to claim 9, wherein:

all of said threaded holes are arranged along one of a line and a smooth curve.

13. An orthopedic fixation device according to claim 9, wherein:

each of said threaded holes is oblique relative to the others.

14. An orthopedic fixation device according to claim 9, wherein:

each of said threaded holes is oblique in two dimensions relative to the others.

15. An orthopedic fixation device according to claim 9, wherein:

said plurality of threaded holes consists of exactly four holes.

16. An orthopedic fixation device according to claim 9, wherein:

said shaft portion includes at least one hole for a bone fastener.

17. An orthopedic fixation device according to claim 9, wherein:

said head portion and said shaft portion are sized and shaped for placement on the distal radius bone.

18. An orthopedic fixation device according to claim 9, wherein:

said shaft portion is relatively flat.

19. An orthopedic fixation device, comprising:

a plate including a head portion and a longitudinally extending shaft portion angled relative to said head portion, said head portion having upper and lower surfaces and defining a plurality of threaded holes adapted to individually receive therein pegs having threaded heads, said threaded holes defining a plurality of axes at least two of which are oblique relative to each other and at least one of which is oblique relative to said lower surface immediately adjacent its corresponding threaded hole.

20. An orthopedic fixation device, comprising:

a substantially rigid plate head portion and a longitudinally extending shaft portion,

said head portion having upper and lower surfaces and defining a plurality of threaded holes adapted to individually receive therein pegs having threaded heads, said threaded holes defining at least three axes which are oblique relative to each other.

21. An orthopedic fixation device according to claim 20, wherein:

said shaft portion is relatively flat.

22. An orthopedic fixation device according to claim 21, wherein:

said head portion is angled relative to said shaft portion.

23. An orthopedic fixation device according to claim 20, wherein:

said shaft portion is offset and substantially parallel to said head portion.

24. An orthopedic fixation device according to claim 20, wherein:

said shaft portion defines an intramedullary nail.

25. An orthopedic fixation device according to claim 20, wherein:

said threaded holes are in an arrangement, and said head portion defines a first surface area on a first side of said arrangement of threaded holes of said head portion, opposite said shaft portion, and a second surface area on a second side of said arrangement of threaded holes of said head portion which is on a same side as said shaft portion, said first surface area being larger than said second surface area.

26. An orthopedic fixation device according to claim 20, wherein:

said threaded holes define less than fifty percent of an area of said head portion such that said lower surface of said head portion provides support to underlying bone.

27. An orthopedic fixation device according to claim 20, wherein:

said head portion and said shaft portion are sized and shaped for placement at the distal radius bone.

28. An orthopedic fixation device, comprising:

a rigid plate portion and a shaft portion, said plate portion having an upper surface and a lower surface and defining a plurality of threaded holes adapted to individually receive therein pegs having threaded heads, said threaded holes defining at least a plurality of axes which diverge in a direction away from said lower surface.

29. An orthopedic fixation device according to claim 28, wherein:

said axes of said threaded holes are arranged to follow the contour of subchondral bone.

30. An orthopedic fixation device according to claim 28, wherein:

said axes of said threaded holes are arranged to extend under the dorsal aspect of the subchondral bone of the distal radius.

31. An orthopedic fixation device according to claim 28, wherein:

said axes of said threaded holes are divergent both medial-laterally and distally.

32. An orthopedic fixation device according to claim 28, wherein:

said plate portion and said shaft portion are sized and shaped for placement at the distal radius bone.

33. An orthopedic fixation device according to claim 28, wherein:

said shaft portion includes at least one hole for receiving a bone fastener.

34. An orthopedic fixation device according to claim 28, wherein:

said shaft portion is relatively flat.

35. An orthopedic fixation device according to claim 34, wherein:

said shaft portion is angled relative to said plate portion.

36. An orthopedic fixation device according to claim 28, wherein:

said shaft portion defines an intramedullary nail.

37. An orthopedic fixation system, comprising:

a) a rigid device having an upper surface and a lower surface, said plate having a head portion and a shaft portion; and

b) a plurality of elements extending from said head portion which diverge in a direction away from said lower surface.

38. An orthopedic fixation system according to claim 37, wherein:

said plurality of elements includes at least three elements attached to said head portion of said device in a substantially linear arrangement.

39. An orthopedic fixation system according to claim 38, wherein:

said linear arrangement is generally parallel to said shaft portion.

40. An orthopedic fixation system according to claim 38, wherein:

said linear arrangement is generally medial-lateral across said head portion.

41. An orthopedic fixation system according to claim 37, wherein:

said plurality of elements includes at least three element attached to said head portion of said plate in a curvilinear arrangement.

42. An orthopedic fixation system according to claim 37, wherein:

said axes of said elements are arranged to follow the contour of subchondral bone.

43. An orthopedic fixation system according to claim 37, wherein:

said elements are arranged to extend under the dorsal aspect of the subchondral bone of the distal radius.

44. An orthopedic fixation system according to claim 37, wherein:

said axes of said elements are divergent both medial-laterally and distally.

45. An orthopedic fixation system according to claim 37, wherein:

said head portion and said shaft portion are sized and shaped for placement on the distal radius bone.

46. An orthopedic fixation system according to claim 37, wherein:

said head portion is angled upwards relative to said shaft portion.

47. An orthopedic fixation system according to claim 37, wherein:

said head portion and said shaft portion are in a T-shaped configuration.

48. An orthopedic fixation system according to claim 37, wherein:

said shaft portion includes at least one hole for receiving a bone fastener.

49. An orthopedic fixation system according to claim 37, wherein:

said elements are pegs which each include a threaded head which is coupled within a threaded hole in said head portion of said plate.

50. An orthopedic fixation system according to claim 49, wherein:

at least one of said pegs includes a threaded shaft portion.

51. An orthopedic fixation plate, comprising:

a rigid plate having an upper surface and a lower surface and defining a plurality of threaded holes adapted to individually receive therein pegs having threaded heads, said threaded holes defining at least a plurality of axes which diverge in a direction away from said lower surface.