Transport distraction apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9867638-B2
Application number	US-201214360560-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 23, 2012
Priority date	Nov 25, 2011
Publication date	Jan 16, 2018
Grant date	Jan 16, 2018

Abstract

Transport distraction apparatus for performing transport distraction osteogenesis is provided which includes a track capable of being formed into a curvilinear shape with a carriage movable longitudinally along the track. The carriage has a fixation plate secured or securable to it and at least one gear for moving the carriage along the track in order to adjust its position relative to the length of the track. The track has a series of formations extending along one edge of the track and engaged by the gear which is at least partially accommodated within a space between a plane including the front face of the track and a plane including the rear face of the track. Preferably, the apparatus creates a gap between a central region of the track and a patient's bone in use. A fixation plate is also provided.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A transport distraction apparatus suitable for performing transport distraction osteogenesis on the maxilla of a patient, the transport distraction apparatus comprising:
a track having a rectangular cross-section with a width greater than its thickness to provide a front and a rear face and two longitudinally extending edges one of which has a toothed rack extending along its length and wherein the track is capable of being formed into a curvilinear shape with a curvature radius suitable for accommodation in the maxilla of a patient;
a carriage movable longitudinally along the track and to which a fixation plate is releasably secured, the fixation plate (i) including a hook-shaped attachment formation configured to fit over an edge of the carriage and (ii) configured to extend between the track and a bone of a patient and wherein the carriage includes a first side and a second side, the second side extending in a direction transverse to the first side, and wherein the hook-shaped attachment formation engages the first and second sides; and
a worm gear having a helically extending thread which meshes the toothed rack extending along one edge of the track for moving the carriage along the track in order to adjust its position relative to the length of the track, wherein the worm gear is at least partially accommodated within a space between a plane including the front face of the track and a plane including the rear face of the track, and wherein the track itself is made as a separate item from a separate elongate mounting and one end of the track is releasably secured by first fasteners to the separate elongate mounting that is securable by second fasteners to bone in a patient and wherein the first fasteners, track, and separate elongate mounting are configured to enable the track to be removed from the separate elongate mounting in a direction that is transverse to the length of the track so as to enable the track to be (i) removed from a patient as may be required and (ii) reinstalled in a patient without disturbing the secure attachment of the separate elongate mounting to the patient.

2. A transport distraction apparatus as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the worm gear has formations at both ends thereof for releasable engagement by a tool for rotating the worm gear and thereby moving the carriage relative to the length of the track.

3. A transport distraction apparatus as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the mounting or shaping of the track is such that a central region of the track and the attachment or attachment position for the fixation plate to the carriage are spaced forwardly of the separate elongate mounting that is configured to be operatively secured to bone in a patient.

4. A transport distraction apparatus as set forth in claim 3 , wherein the rear face of the central region of the track is spaced forwardly of a rear face of the separate elongate mounting that is configured to be operatively secured to bone in a patient by a distance of the order of the thickness of the elongate mounting.

5. A transport distraction apparatus as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the fixation plate is a generally flat plate having the hook-shaped attachment formation attaching the plate to the carriage, and wherein the fixation plate has deep generally sector shaped cut-out portions extending inwardly towards the attachment formation so as to define plural arms capable of independent bending to conform generally to a three-dimensional curve.

6. A transport distraction apparatus as set forth in claim 5 , wherein the fixation plate is generally semicircular in shape with two, three, or four sector shaped cut-out portions defining a plurality of arms extending in a generally radial direction from the attachment formation.

7. A transport distraction apparatus as set forth in claim 6 , wherein each of the arms is perforated with multiple perforations that can be used for securing the fixation plate in position, in use.

8. A transport distraction apparatus as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the track is angularly adjustable relative to the separate elongate mounting.

9. A transport distraction apparatus as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the track includes a titanium material configured to be formed into the curvilinear shape.

10. A transport distraction apparatus as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the track includes a first end and a second end opposite the first end, the first end releasably secured to the separate elongate mounting by the first fasteners, and the second end being devoid of fasteners.

11. A transport distraction apparatus as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the fixation plate and the hook-shaped attachment formation collectively define a U-shape.

Assignees

• Univ Cape Town

Inventors

• Vicatos George
• Hendriks Mogamat Rushdie
• Boonzaier James Angus

Classifications

• A61B17/663 Primary

  for jaw bones, e.g. subcutaneous distractors with external access (periodontal bone regeneration A61C8/0006) · CPC title