Bone coupling device and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11660133-B2
Application number	US-201916666014-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 28, 2019
Priority date	Oct 26, 2018
Publication date	May 30, 2023
Grant date	May 30, 2023

Abstract

A bone coupling device is configured for joining a first bone piece to a second bone piece which includes a first component having an inner surface bounding a first cavity and a first stem portion for insertion into the first bone piece. A second component includes a second stem portion for insertion into the second bone piece and an axially extending connector extending from the second stem portion and configured to be inserted into the first cavity. The connector has an outer surface which is complementarily shaped relative to an inner surface to inhibit rotation relative to each other when the connector is received in the cavity to engage the first component and the second component.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A bone coupling device configured for joining a first bone piece to a second bone piece, the device comprising:
a first component comprising an inner surface bounding a first cavity and a first stem portion having external threads for insertion into the first bone piece;
a second component comprising a second stem portion having external threads for insertion into the second bone piece and an axially extending connector extending from the second stem portion and configured to be inserted into the first cavity;
said connector having an outer surface, said outer surface and said inner surface complementarily shaped to inhibit rotation relative to each other when said connector is received in said cavity to engage said first component and said second component;
each of said outer surface and said inner surface comprises a plurality of longitudinally extending substantially flat surfaces spaced circumferentially from each other about an axis of said first component and said second component, such that contact between said outer surface and said inner surface inhibits rotation of said first component and said second component relative to each other
wherein inner flat surfaces of said plurality of longitudinally extending substantially flat surfaces forming said inner surface extend longitudinally along an entire length of said first cavity configured to receive said connector;
wherein two outer flat surfaces of said plurality of longitudinally extending substantially flat surfaces forming said outer surface bound an axially aligned slot extending through said outer surface and along a longitudinal portion of said two outer flat surfaces to allow elastic deformation of said connector;
wherein said outer surface comprises at least one locking projection having a larger radial dimension relative to a remainder of said outer surface, said at least one locking projection extending outwardly from at least one of said substantially flat surfaces of said outer surface, said at least one locking projection comprising an inclined surface configured to allow at least one of said inner flat surfaces of said first component to move along said inclined surface to said larger radial dimension of said at least one locking projection in response to an axial force engaging said first component and said second component to elastically deform said connector and provide a friction fit between said cavity of said first component and said connector of said second component to inhibit a separation of said connector from said cavity;
wherein said connector comprises a first end opposite said second stem portion toward said first component and a second end closest to said second stem portion, wherein said at least one locking projection is spaced longitudinally from said first end of said connector by a flat surface portion of said at least one of said substantially flat surfaces of said outer surface and said at least one locking projection is spaced longitudinally from said second end by a second flat surface portion of said at least one of said substantially flat surfaces of said outer surface.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said slot connects a connector cavity in a radial interior of said connector with an exterior of said connector, said connector being deformable such that said two outer flat surfaces move closer to each other in response to said first component receiving said connector in said cavity and said at least one locking projection contacting said inner surface to provide the frictional fit.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein said at least one locking projection comprises a first locking projection and a second locking projection extending outwardly from said outer surface, said first locking projection and said second locking projection located opposite one another about said slot and bounding said slot.

4. The device of claim 2 wherein said at least one locking projection comprises a first locking projection and a second locking projection extending outwardly from said outer surface, said first locking projection and said second locking projection located on opposite longitudinal substantially flat surfaces bounding said slot.

5. The device of claim 2 wherein said at least one locking projection comprises a first locking projection and a second locking projection extending outwardly from said outer surface, said first locking projection and said second locking projection radially aligned with each other said axis of said first component and said second component.

6. The device of claim 4 wherein said first locking projection is located on a first portion of said connector and said second locking projection is located on a second portion of said connector, said slot extends through said connector from a lateral side to a second lateral side, said slot bounded by said first portion of said connector and said second portion of said connector, said connector elastically deformable such that said first portion and said second portion may deflect toward each other into said slot in response to a force being placed on at least one of said first locking portion or said second locking portion in response to the axial force engaging said first component and said second component to provide a friction fit between said first component and said second component.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein said outer surface of said connector and said inner surface of said first component are non-threaded.

8. The device of claim 1 wherein said longitudinal portion of said two outer flat surfaces extends less than an entire length of said outer surface.

9. The device of claim 1 wherein said inner surface forms a hexagonal cross-section along the entire length of said first cavity.

Assignees

• Zimmer Inc

Inventors

• Pepper John R
• Weiner Lon S
• Katchis Stuart D
• Denham Gregory J
• Holton Thomas
• Schlotterback Ryan D

Classifications

• A61C8/0042

  consisting of two halves · CPC title

• A61C8/0066

  with positioning means (A61C8/006 takes precedence) · CPC title

• A61C8/006

  with polygonal positional means, e.g. hexagonal or octagonal · CPC title

• A61C8/0062

  Catch or snap type connection · CPC title

• A61B17/8685 Primary

  comprising multiple separate parts · CPC title