Surgery – Instruments – Orthopedic instrumentation
Reexamination Certificate
2000-07-31
2001-09-11
Philogene, Pedro (Department: 3732)
Surgery
Instruments
Orthopedic instrumentation
C606S057000, C606S064000, C606S071000, C606S105000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06287307
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to surgical devices and, in particular, to clamping and fixation assemblies for holding together split sections of bones.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,849,012, titled “Surgical Clamping Assemblies and Methods of Use”, issued to the present Applicant and the teachings of which are incorporated herein by reference, applicant identified a problem existing in the art pertaining to the use of wires for sternal fixation. That is, in the prior art a wire is used to directly clamp two bone halves together. The wire may cut right through the bone causing damage to the bone rather than the expected healing. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,849,012, Applicant taught the use of clamping assemblies to be mounted on separate sections of bones and the use of wire to interconnect the clamping assemblies without the wire touching the bone area underlying the clamping assembly. Thus the wire does not cause the cutting of the bony sections being clamped. In refining his prior work, Applicant recognized the need for a clamping assembly which would have a relatively low profile (i.e., be relatively thin) and where the clamping assembly avoids the use of hooks or parts extending outwards from the bone sections, in order to reduce any outward pressure (i.e., push out) against the flesh and skin layer(s) overlying the bone sections. By way of example, it is desirable that a clamping assembly for clamping sternal halves be easy to mount securely on the bone sections and have a low profile while still providing rigid and dynamic fixation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Apparatus embodying the invention includes a clamping assembly for clamping together first and second sections of bone having, when so clamped, a common external surface generally perpendicular to contacting surfaces of the first and second bone sections, and each bone section having a side surface generally parallel to said contacting surface and transversely joined to said common external surface. The clamping assembly includes first and second “L-shaped” plates; the horizontal portion of the “L” having a top surface and a bottom surface with a groove therebetween for enabling a wire to pass through the groove between the top and bottom surfaces. The first and second plates are generally aligned opposite each other, with the first plate being secured to the first bone section and the second plate being secured to the second bone section and, as to each plate, the horizontal portion of its “L” section resting on the common external surface and the vertical portion of its “L” section abutting its respective side surface. A wire is disposed within at least a portion of the groove and is wound between the first and second plates in a figure-of-eight configuration for pulling the two plates toward each other and simultaneously compressing the two bone sections together without the wire touching the bone surface underneath the plate and without the wire extending above the top surface of the plates.
In a particular embodiment, as to each plate, the horizontal portion of the “L” is made generally of triangular shape to enable the figure-of-eight configuration to be formed without sharp bends. Also, as to each plate, the base of the triangle defines its rear section and the apex of the triangle defines its front section.
In still another embodiment of the invention, as to each plate, a spike extends from the generally middle region of the vertical section of the “L” for securing the plate to its associated bone section.
In a particular embodiment, as to each plate, an oblique hole is formed in the vertical portion of the “L” distal from the horizontal section and a notch is formed in the back of the base of the triangle to enable a circumferential wire to be passed underneath the bone sections, through the oblique holes and around the bone sections via the notch in each base for securing the bone sections together.
A method of clamping two bone sections together includes passing the circumferential wire through and around the first and second plates to provide a first level of compression and then positioning a wire within at least a portion of the groove and winding it in a figure-of-eight configuration between the first and second plates for pulling the two plates toward each other and simultaneously compressing the two bone sections.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention there is provided a plate driver for holding the plates in an aligned relationship and for then driving the plates from the back of the vertical “L” section of the plates into respective bone sections whereby the plates retain their alignment and the spikes are easily and securely inserted into their respective bone sections.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3960147 (1976-06-01), Murray
patent: 4275490 (1981-06-01), Bivins
patent: 4790303 (1988-12-01), Steffee
patent: 5053039 (1991-10-01), Hofmann et al.
patent: 5649925 (1997-07-01), Barbera Aleacreu
patent: 5849012 (1998-12-01), Abboudi
patent: 6045551 (2000-04-01), Bonuti
patent: 6096079 (2000-08-01), Eaton
Philogene Pedro
Schanzer Henry I
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