Bone plates with movable locking elements

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9414871-B2
Application number	US-201213652185-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 15, 2012
Priority date	Jul 22, 2002
Publication date	Aug 16, 2016
Grant date	Aug 16, 2016

Abstract

System, including methods, apparatus, and kits, for fixing bones with bone plates having movable locking elements.

First claim

We claim:

1. A bone plate for bone fixation, comprising:
a plate body defining a longitudinal axis and a pair of grooves, wherein the pair of grooves extend parallel to the longitudinal axis; and
a locking element including a portion having a through-hole with an internal thread and also including a biasing mechanism that resiliently positions the portion having a through-hole with respect to the plate body, the locking element being configured to receive a fastener in the through-hole such that the fastener is in threaded engagement with the internal thread, the locking element being disposed in the pair of grooves for movement along the grooves in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis.

2. The bone plate of claim 1 , wherein the portion having a through-hole and a portion of the locking element that forms the biasing mechanism are continuous with one another.

3. The bone plate of claim 1 , wherein the plate body has an inner surface region configured to face bone, and wherein the locking element has a biased position with respect to the plate body along an axis that is at least generally orthogonal to the inner surface region.

4. The bone plate of claim 1 , wherein the locking element is a first locking element, further comprising a second locking element y disposed in a pair of grooves defined by the plate body.

5. The bone plate of claim 1 , wherein the locking element is removable from the plate body.

6. The bone plate of claim 1 , wherein the pair of grooves are internal grooves located inside the plate body.

7. A bone plate for bone fixation, comprising:
a plate body defining a longitudinal axis and an opening, the plate body including flanges that border the opening and extend parallel to the longitudinal axis; and
a spring-biased element supported by the flanges and movable along the flanges in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis, the spring-biased element being configured to receive a fastener in threaded engagement with the spring-biased element.

8. The bone plate of claim 7 , wherein the spring-biased element includes a flexible portion.

9. The bone plate of claim 7 , wherein the plate body has an inner surface region configured to face bone, and wherein the spring-biased element has a biased position with respect to the plate body along an axis that is at least generally orthogonal to the inner surface region.

10. The bone plate of claim 7 , wherein the spring-biased element is removable from the plate body.

11. A method of fixing bone, the method comprising:
selecting a bone plate including a plate body defining a longitudinal axis, the plate body including a pair of tracks that extend parallel to the longitudinal axis, the bone plate including a spring-biased locking element disposed in the pair of tracks and slidable along the pair of tracks in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis; and
attaching the bone plate to bone with a fastener extending into the bone and disposed in threaded engagement with the locking element.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the locking element is a first locking element and the bone plate includes a second spring-biased locking element, further comprising a step of attaching the bone plate to the bone with another fastener extending into the bone and locked to the second spring-biased locking element.

13. The method of claim 11 , further comprising a step of sliding the locking element with respect to the plate body in the direction parallel to the longitudinal axis.

Assignees

• Acumed Llc

Inventors

• Huebner Randall J
• Jensen David G

Classifications

• A61B17/1782

  for the hand or wrist · CPC title

• A61B17/808

  Instruments for holding or positioning bone plates, or for adjusting screw-to-plate locking mechanisms · CPC title

• A61B17/8061 Primary

  specially adapted for particular bones (A61B17/70 and A61B17/74 take precedence) · CPC title

• A61B2090/067

  for measuring angles · CPC title

• A61B17/80

  Cortical plates {, i.e. bone plates; Instruments for holding or positioning cortical plates, or for compressing bones attached to cortical plates} · CPC title