Surgery – Instruments – Orthopedic instrumentation
Reexamination Certificate
2002-04-22
2004-09-07
O'Connor, Cary E. (Department: 3732)
Surgery
Instruments
Orthopedic instrumentation
C606S064000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06786909
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to an implant for osteosyntheses consisting of a plate provided with a plurality of holes following in succession in the longitudinal direction and screws that can be inserted through the holes in the plate and can be screwed into a bone in the proper position, whereby at least most of the holes intended to receive the screws are offset in alternation toward the outside, based on an imaginary center plane of the plate, whereby the center axes of the holes form an acute angle with the imaginary center plane of the plate and whereby the holes taper from the surface of the plate which is intended to face outward.
In the case of a known bone plate (German Utility Model 86 28 766), holes that are offset laterally with respect to the central longitudinal axis are provided so that screws can be inserted into them. If the holes are offset by a larger angular amount of 10° to 20° (based on the round bone cross section) from the center axis, the plate is curved about an axis parallel to the longitudinal direction to adapt it to the bone surface or it otherwise approximates a cylindrical shape (in particular with a polygonal cross section). Due to the fact that the transverse dimension of the bone plate need not be broadened significantly, despite the laterally offset arrangement of the holes, considered locally, the plate can be deformed with the usual tools and adapted individually to the shape of the bone. The width of the plate corresponds approximately to the width of a normal narrow plate, but the course of this plate has a zigzag character due to the recesses. Thus, this plate may also have a helical twist, so that the optimal fastening points can be achieved in this case, depending on the type of fracture. Since the state-of-the-art plates are relatively broad an thus it is difficult to adapt them to the respective fracture situations, the goal is to design the known bone plate so that it can be adapted to a larger number of types of fractures due to the individual shaping.
In addition, a bone plate has become known (European Patent Application 0 206 767) in which the holes are arranged offset laterally with respect to the central longitudinal axis, the holes being countersunk essentially in the form of a section of a sphere, and the underside of the head of the screws having a corresponding cross-sectional shape. Therefore, the screw head can always sit snugly in the countersunk depression in the bone plate. However, a position between the bone plate and screw that has angular stability cannot be achieved in this way.
In the case of another known bone plate (International Patent Application WO-97/09000), holes with a conical taper are provided and heads with a corresponding shape are also provided on the screws to be used, but no permanent connection with angular stability can be achieved with screws running with parallel axes. In this case a large portion of the forces must thus be transmitted from the plate to the bone surface through direct contact pressure.
In the case of the mechanical principle of conventional plate osteosynthesis used in the past, the plate is in direct contact with the bone either over the surface or with projecting strips or cams. Therefore, the contact pressure of the plate on the bone and the resulting friction of the plate against the bone is the deciding factor for the transmission of forces from one bone fragment to the other. This therefore results in a direct transmission of forces from the bone to the plate and from the plate back to the bone. As soon as a screw that has been inserted becomes loosened, i.e., is slightly unscrewed, this stabilization principle fails. However, there are also problems here from a biological standpoint. A zone of necrosis develops beneath the plate due to poor circulation. The vessels of the periosteum are clamped off.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The object of the present invention is to create an implant of the type defined preamble with which the transmission of force over a plate can be improved significantly from both a mechanical and a biological standpoint.
This is accomplished according to this invention by the fact that the holes in the plate have a conical taper and the screws have a head which has a conical taper toward the shaft which is provided with a thread, so that the conical taper essentially corresponds to that of the sections formed by the holes, and the head can be secured in the holes in a friction-locked and/or form-fitting manner; the plate is designed with multiple twists as seen in its longitudinal direction, whereby the main alignment across the longitudinal extent of the plate in the area of the individual holes runs at a right angle to the center axis of the corresponding hole, and the plate is designed with a slight curvature, as seen from the side, whereby a tendon passed through the ends of the plate is at a distance from a center section of the plate.
These measures achieve the result that the plate is no longer in contact with the bone under pressure. There is actually a gap between the bone and the plate. The transfer of forces from one fragment to the other then takes place as follows: bone—screw shaft—head of the screw(s)—plate—head of the screw(s)—screw shaft—bone. The prerequisite for this was the possibility created by this invention, namely that there would be a clamping connection between the head of the screws and the plate having angular stability. Due to the clamping connection of the head of the screw in the corresponding hole in the plate at a stable angle, an optimal angular stability and protection against unscrewing are created. Such protection against unscrewing is especially advantageous because unscrewing of the screws might occur merely due to repetitive alternating loads.
In addition to a secure stabilization, it is thus optionally also possible to use fewer screws. Circulation disorders do not occur at all beneath the plate or they occur only to a much lesser extent, because the vessels of the periosteum are not clamped off.
The boreholes in the bones for inserting screws are not all aligned in one row. Therefore, splitting off of fragments is essentially prevented, and in addition, this also greatly reduces circulation disorders. The convergence of the screws inserted has an especially good effect. Screws inserted successively into a bone thus approximately intersect at the center of the medullary space of the bone. This measure greatly increases the torsional stability of the plate osteosynthesis. Screws implanted in a line relatively close together may cause the bone to fracture when exposed to strong torsional forces. Screws implanted in a line relatively close together are also more likely to cause circulation disorders, which have a negative effect due to the interruption in the blood vessels running in the longitudinal Haversian channels in comparison with holes arranged at an offset and thus in comparison with screws intersecting one another sequentially.
Due to the measures according to this invention, a step toward an elastic plate has been achieved, whereby natural bone healing with the development of callous is expected, as was previously the case when using a plaster cast, due to the possibilities of movement.
Due to the fact that the plate is designed with multiple twists, as seen in its longitudinal direction, the main alignment across the longitudinal extent of the plate running at least approximately at a right angle to the center axis of the corresponding hole in the area of the individual holes. Therefore, the plate is approximately parallel to the surface of the bone in the respective area of attachment. Thus, there is always essentially a uniform gap between bone and plate.
It is also proposed here that the lateral limits on the plate should follow essentially the offset holes and the exterior contours of the holes, so that the plate has essentially a wavy course over the length as seen from above. This permits an at least approximately uniform stability over the length of the plate
Dransfeld Clemens
Magerl Fritz
Peter Thomas Andreas
Tognini Roger Roland
Melson Candice C.
O'Connor Cary E.
Sepitec Foundation
Volpe and Koenig P.C.
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