Surgery – Instruments – Orthopedic instrumentation
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-20
2001-04-24
Philogene, Pedro (Department: 3732)
Surgery
Instruments
Orthopedic instrumentation
C606S064000, C606S070000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06221073
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates generally to orthopaedic bone apparatuses and methods, and more particularly, to an anatomical wrist fusion plate apparatus and method.
BACKGROUND ART
As can be appreciated by those of skill in the art, it is common for a wrist fusion apparatus such as a plate to be used in arthrodesis to fuse bones of the wrist area of a patient in a desired orientation. A variety of configurations and designs of wrist fusion plates exist within the prior art for utilization in this manner.
It is common for some types of wrist fusion apparatuses to extend typically from the radius to a metacarpal, such as the third metacarpal, of the hand for utilization in wrist fusion. Wrist fusion apparatuses of this variety are typically fastened both to the radius and to the third metacarpal by bone screws, and wrist fusion apparatuses of this variety also therefore overlie the carpus area and the bones of the carpus area which are positioned between the radius and the metacarpal bones. As known to those of skill in the art, bone grafts can be packed between the radius, the carpus area bones, and the metacarpals after such a wrist fusion plate is in place, and the bone grafts typically will bond with the adjacent bones in order to create a fused bone mass at the wrist joint.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,853,413 to Carter et al. discloses such a wrist fusion apparatus in the form of a plate configured to extend over the carpus area and to position at least one metacarpal relative to the radius. A saddle portion is included in the wrist fusion plate and is placed over the carpus area. A proximal end extends from the saddle portion and is attachable to the radius, while a distal end extends from the saddle portion and is attachable to one of the metacarpals. The proximal end extending from the saddle portion defines a first longitudinal axis, and the distal end extending from the saddle portion defines a second longitudinal axis wherein the first and second longitudinal axes are not actually aligned in a medial-lateral direction.
Generally, the use of a dorsal wrist fusion plate is indicated in patients with post-traumatic or degenerative wrist arthritis, conditions involving significant loss of bone substance, and failed total and partial wrist arthrodesis. Wrist arthrodesis can also be successfully utilized in patients with complex fractures of the wrist. A fusion plate can be utilized in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, although simpler stabilization techniques are currently fairly predictable. Contraindications to utilizing a metacarpal sparing total wrist fusion plate involve severe carpal bone loss requiring stabilization to the metacarpal to maintain alignment and stability and evidence of active ongoing infection at the time of the surgical procedure.
Wrist fusion plate apparatuses and methods such as that disclosed in Carter et al. require attachment of a portion of the wrist fusion plate to one or more of the metacarpals of the hand. Unfortunately, this feature suffers various undesirable disadvantages, such as a high propensity for the development of extensor tendinitis at the prominent distal end of the plate necessitating removal of the plate and a second surgical procedure.
Despite the prior art wrist fusion apparatuses and methods, there remains much room for improvement in the art, particularly for a wrist fusion apparatus and method which can be used for fusing wrist bones by attachment to a radius and attachment to one or more carpus area bones without attachment to a metacarpal.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a novel wrist fusion apparatus and method for fusing wrist bones by attachment to a radius and attachment to one or more carpus area bones without attachment to a metacarpal. The wrist fusion apparatus comprises an elongated plate having a bottom side for at least partially contacting bone and an opposite top side. The plate has a proximal portion for positioning over and attachment to a radius bone and a distal portion for positioning over and attachment to at least one carpus area bone without extending over or attaching to a metacarpal bone. The proximal portion of the plate has a substantially linear longitudinal axis, and the distal portion of the plate has a curved longitudinal axis extending from the longitudinal axis of said proximal portion.
The plate defines a plurality of holes therethrough wherein the proximal portion defines at least one hole for positioning over a radius bone and the distal portion defines at least one hole for positioning over at least one carpus area bone. The plate can be positioned such that the proximal portion hole is over and can be used for attachment of the plate to a radius bone while the distal portion hole is positioned over and can be used for attachment of the plate to at least one carpus area bone for wrist fusion by the wrist fusion apparatus without attachment of the plate to a metacarpal bone.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a novel wrist fusion apparatus and method for fusing wrist bones by attachment to a radius and attachment to one or more carpus area bones.
It is also an object of the present invention to provide a wrist fusion apparatus and method for utilization in fusing wrist bones without attachment to a metacarpal.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a wrist fusion apparatus and method wherein the wrist fusion apparatus can effectively and easily be surgically placed into position and which can be effectively and easily utilized for wrist fusion.
Some of the objects of the invention having been stated hereinabove, other objects, in whole or in part, will become evident as the description proceeds, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings as best described hereinbelow.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4565193 (1986-01-01), Streli
patent: 4867144 (1989-09-01), Karas et al.
patent: 5197966 (1993-03-01), Sommerkamp
patent: 5718705 (1998-02-01), Sammarco
patent: 5853413 (1998-12-01), Carter et al.
Collins Michael S.
Weiss Arnold-Peter C.
Jenkins & Wilson, P.A.
Kinetikos Medical, Inc.
Philogene Pedro
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