Surgery – Instruments – Orthopedic instrumentation
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-10
2001-12-04
Reip, David O. (Department: 3731)
Surgery
Instruments
Orthopedic instrumentation
C606S064000, C606S075000, C606S104000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06325803
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to surgical applications for the repair of bone fractures and deformities. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method apparatus for mandibular osteosythesis.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
In various orthopedic surgical procedures, it is necessary to align and secure two bone portions in a relatively fixed relationship to each other. For example, the need for establishing such a secured relationship is often a result of a fracture which has occurred to the bone. To ensure that the bone can regenerate in the proper orientation and fuse the fracture, it is important that the bone portions be fixed in the desired position during bone regeneration.
It is known in the art to provide metal plates for the repair of bone fractures. These plates are generally secured to bone portions with screws. Among other applications, such plates and fasteners are used to provide rigid stabilization of orthopedic and craniofacial fractures. The plates conventionally employed for cranial and facial osteosynthesis generally comprise small, generally flat, elongated sections of metal. The sections contain round and perhaps elongated screw holes at various points along their lengths for fastening the sections to bone.
Because no surface of the human skeleton is completely flat, existing plates must be extensively twisted, formed and bent during surgery to conform to portions of the skeleton on which they are to be affixed. Significant time is expended during surgery for shaping and re-shaping metal plates adequately to conform to desire bone surfaces. This additional time increases anesthesia requirements and operating room time and also increases the potential for infection.
In one commonly used technique for mandibular reconstruction, a flat plate is drawn against the surface of the mandible with a plurality of fasteners, thereby bending the plate to a desired shape. Subsequently, the fasteners and plate are removed to allow surgical access to the mandible (e.g. for removal of a cancerous growth). Finally, the plate is again fastened to the mandible by engaging the fasteners with existing holes in the mandible.
While known systems utilizing plates and fasteners for cranial and facial osteosynthesis have proven to be acceptable for certain applications, such systems are nevertheless susceptible to improvements that may enhance their performance. In this regard, many known systems require time consuming surgical attachment. Additionally, known systems which necessitate the insertion, removal and subsequent re-insertion of fasteners into the bone negatively affect fastener purchase. Furthermore, many known techniques for cranial facial osteosynthesis disadvantageously position a plate immediately adjacent to the bone which is particularly susceptible to resorption.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
In one form, the present invention relates to a method for mandibular osteosynthesis which includes the general step of securing an elongated locking plate to a bone with a plurality of fasteners each including a main body portion having an upper shaft portion and a lower shaft portion. Each fastener further includes a head member removably attached to the upper shaft portion. The method of the present invention further includes the general step of removing the locking plate from the bone by removing the removable head member of each fastener from its main body portion.
In another form, the present invention comprises a system for osteosynthesis of a mandible including an elongated locking plate and at least one fastener. The elongated locking plate has a plurality of internally threaded apertures. Each of the at least one fastener has a main body portion with an externally threaded lower shaft portion and an upper shaft portion. The at least one fastener further has a head member adapted to removably engage the upper shaft portion. The head member is externally threaded for engaging one of the plurality of internally threaded apertures. The externally threaded shaft portion and the externally threaded head member preferably have a common thread lead and an identical thread pitch.
An advantage of the present invention is the provision of a method and apparatus for mandibular osteosynthesis which quickly and easily contours a plate to the mandible without sacrificing fastener purchase with the bone.
A related advantage of the present invention is the provision of a method and apparatus for mandibular osteosynthesis which incorporates a threaded fastener having a removable head.
Another advantage of the present invention is the provision of a method and apparatus for osteosynthesis which incorporates a locking plate with an upwardly curved forward end that more accurately cooperates with the geometry of the human mandible.
Another advantage of the present invention is the provision of a method and apparatus for mandibular osteosynthesis which incorporates an auxiliary reinforcement member adapted to be removably attached to a locking plate.
Another advantage of the present invention is the provision of a method and apparatus for mandible osteosynthesis which incorporates a plate reinforcement member which may be selectively secured to a locking plate for increased strength in areas of significant loss of bone mass.
A related advantage of the present invention is the provision of a method and apparatus for mandible osteosynthesis which incorporates a mesh reinforcement member which may be attached to a reconstruction plate for providing reinforcement where a resection has been made or significant bone mass is otherwise absent.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1105105 (1914-07-01), Sherman
patent: 2489870 (1949-11-01), Dzus
patent: 2494229 (1950-01-01), Collison
patent: 2631584 (1953-03-01), Purificato
patent: 3488779 (1970-01-01), Christensen
patent: 4219015 (1980-08-01), Steinemann
patent: 4429690 (1984-02-01), Angelino-Pievani
patent: 4484570 (1984-11-01), Sutter et al.
patent: 4708132 (1987-11-01), Silvestrini
patent: 4903691 (1990-02-01), Heinl
patent: 4959065 (1990-09-01), Arnett et al.
patent: 4973332 (1990-11-01), Kummer
patent: 5108395 (1992-04-01), Laurain
patent: 5108399 (1992-04-01), Eitenmuller et al.
patent: 5129899 (1992-07-01), Small et al.
patent: 5147363 (1992-09-01), Härle
patent: 5151103 (1992-09-01), Tepic et al.
patent: 5180382 (1993-01-01), Frigg et al.
patent: 5269784 (1993-12-01), Mast
patent: 5303718 (1994-04-01), Krajicek
patent: 5358367 (1994-10-01), Yang
patent: 5372598 (1994-12-01), Luhr et al.
patent: 5403136 (1995-04-01), Mathys
patent: 5413577 (1995-05-01), Pollock
patent: 5474551 (1995-12-01), Finn et al.
patent: 5505731 (1996-04-01), Tornier
patent: 5520690 (1996-05-01), Errico et al.
patent: 5569247 (1996-10-01), Morrison
patent: 5591167 (1997-01-01), Laurain et al.
patent: 5601553 (1997-02-01), Trebing et al.
patent: 5601554 (1997-02-01), Howland et al.
patent: 5607428 (1997-03-01), Lin
patent: 5653710 (1997-08-01), Härle
patent: 5676667 (1997-10-01), Hausman
patent: 5722976 (1998-03-01), Brown
patent: 6007538 (1999-12-01), Levin
patent: 867422 (1949-07-01), None
Duncan Jeffrey A.
Schumacher Brian S.
Stone Kevin T.
Reip David O.
Walter Lorenz Surgical Inc.
LandOfFree
Method and apparatus for mandibular osteosynthesis does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Method and apparatus for mandibular osteosynthesis, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Method and apparatus for mandibular osteosynthesis will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2597740