Bone connector with pivotable joint

• US 20060271054A1
• Filed: 05/09/2006
• Published: 11/30/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Acumed Llc (Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Acumed Llc (Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated)
• Inventors: Tuller, Thomas C., Sucec, Matthew C.
• Granted Patent: US 7,951,198 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/310
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/562 Implants for placement in joint gaps without restricting joint motion, e.g. to reduce arthritic pain
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/68 Internal fixation devices , including fasteners and spinal fixators, even if a part thereof projects from the skin bone staples A61B17/0642
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8615 at the central region of the screw head
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8685 comprising multiple separate parts
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8875 Screwdrivers, spanners or wrenches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/888 the driver bit acting on the central region of the screw head
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4261 for wrists
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4606 of wrists or ankles; of hands, e.g. fingers; of feet, e.g. toes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30649 Ball-and-socket joints
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3085 with a threaded, e.g. self-tapping, bone-engaging surface, e.g. external surface
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30904 serrated profile, i.e. saw-toothed
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4271 Carpal bones

Abstract

System, including methods, apparatus, and kits, for connecting bones and/or bone portions using a bone connector with a pivotable joint.

Claims

1. A device for connection of at least two bone members, comprising:

a pair of anchor elements configured to enter and engage respective bone members such that the anchor elements are secured to the bone members, the pair of anchor elements being coupled by a pivotable joint that permits relative pivotal motion of the anchor elements about at least two nonparallel axes and that retains the anchor elements proximate one another whether or not the anchor elements are engaged with bone.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the anchor elements form the pivotable joint.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein one of the anchor elements defines a cavity, and wherein a protuberance of the other anchor element is trapped in the cavity to form the pivotable joint.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the anchor elements are movable translationally relative to one another.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the pivotable joint is a ball-and-socket joint.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the device consists of exactly two pieces.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the anchor elements includes an external thread for engagement with bone.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the anchor elements are configured as a leading anchor element and a trailing anchor element, wherein the leading anchor element is configured to lead the trailing anchor element into bone, and wherein the leading anchor element is smaller in diameter than the trailing anchor element.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein each anchor element defines a driver engagement structure, and wherein the driver engagement structures have the same cross-sectional size and shape.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the anchor elements includes a retention mechanism that can be actuated to anchor the at least one anchor element in a bone at a selectable time after the at least one anchor element is disposed in bone.

11. A bone screw, comprising:

a pair of screw elements configured to be inserted in bone and each having an external thread for threaded engagement with bone, the pair of screw elements being coupled by a pivotable joint that permits relative pivotal motion of the screw elements about at least two nonparallel axes and that retains the pair of screw elements proximate to one another whether or not the screw elements are engaged with bone.

12. The bone screw of claim 11, wherein one of the screw elements defines a cavity and the other screw element includes a protuberance, and wherein the protuberance received in the cavity forms the pivotable joint.

13. The bone screw of claim 12, wherein the pivotable joint is a ball-and-socket joint.

14. The bone screw of claim 11, wherein the bone screw consists of exactly two pieces.

15. The bone screw of claim 11, wherein the screw elements are configured as a leading screw element and a trailing screw element, wherein the leading screw element is configured to lead the trailing screw element into bone, and wherein the leading screw element is smaller in diameter than the trailing screw element.

16. The bone screw of claim 11, wherein each screw element defines a driver engagement structure, and wherein the driver engagement structures have the same cross-sectional size and shape.

17. A method of connecting bone members, comprising:

selecting a connector including a pair of anchor elements coupled by a pivotable joint that permits relative pivotal motion of the anchor elements about at least two nonparallel axes and that retains the anchor elements proximate one another whether or not the anchor elements are engaged with bone; and

installing the connector in a pair of bone members such that each anchor element is engaged with and secured to a respective bone member.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of selecting includes a step of selecting a connector including a pair of anchor elements engaged with one another to form a ball-and-socket joint.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of installing includes a step of placing the pair of anchor elements into a scaphoid bone and a lunate bone.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of installing includes a step of disposing each anchor element in threaded engagement with a respective bone member.