Patent Application
20080015590
With reference to
The bone plate 10 is generally elongated in shape and includes a main body 11 bordered by a perimeter 16. The perimeter 16 defines the overall shape of the bone plate 10. The main body 11 includes a plurality of fixation holes 20 configured to receive screws, bolts, posts, or other fixation members designed to seat in the bone and secure the bone plate 10 to the bone.
The bone plate 10 generally includes two opposing surfaces, including a bone contacting surface (not shown) and an outward facing surface 20. The bone contacting surface is designed for placement against the bone. Accordingly, the bone contacting surface may be slightly concave relative to a longitudinal midline, allowing the bone contacting surface to conform to the bone while providing a greater surface area for actual contact with the bone 100. The outward facing surface 20 is opposite the bone contacting surface and faces away from the bone 100. The screws or other fixation devices are inserted through the holes 18 in the bone plate 10 and into the bone 100. When the screws are fixed to the bone, they secure the bone plate in place against the bone.
With continued reference to
The perimeter 16 of the bone plate 10 includes several contours and rounded bump out portions. Contours in the perimeter 16 follow the general shape of the surface 20 of the plate 10. The rounded bump out portions 19 are provided along the perimeter sides of each of the plurality of holes 18. These rounded bump out portions 19 generally provide additional plate area to strengthen the plate where the holes 18 are located. In particular, the bump out portions 19 provide additional plate material around the holes, and this additional plate material acts to resist bending of the plate near the holes.
Alignment indicia 30 are provided between the first end 12 and the second end 14 of the bone plate 10. In the embodiment of
The alignment indicia 30 provided in the perimeter 16 of the plate 10 are not associated with any of the holes 18 in the plate. In particular, the alignment indicia 30 are separate from the bump out portions 19 which are each formed around one of the plurality of holes 18. Also, the alignment indicia 30 do not result from a contour in the perimeter that is related to the holes, such as an indentation 17 in the perimeter resulting from two adjacent bump out portions 19 formed around two of the holes 18.
The alignment indicia 30 are configured for alignment with an anatomical feature on a patient's body. For example, with the bone plate 10 disclosed in
One example of another anatomical feature that the alignment indicia 30 may be configured for alignment with is a bone fracture. An example of a bone plate 10 positioned on a bone 100 with a fracture 102 is disclosed in
One of skill in the art will recognize that the alignment indicia 30 formed in the perimeter 16 of the bone plate 10 may comprise various other shapes and sizes other than the formations shown herein. Accordingly, the alignment indicia 30 formed in the perimeter may comprise is not limited to the protrusions 31, 32 or indentations 33, 34 such as those shown in
In addition to alignment indicia 30 formed along the perimeter of the bone plate 10, the alignment indicia may also be provided in additional locations. For example, additional alignment indicia may comprise etched symbols or text in the bone plate. Exemplary etching is shown in
The bone plate 10 is generally comprised of a rigid biocompatible material, such as CoCr, titanium, or other material. In one embodiment, the biocompatible material is radio-opaque such that the plate is detectable by radiography or fluoroscopy. Use of such materials allows the surgeon to confirm correct placement of the bone plate 10 with respect to the designated anatomical features during or following surgery. In particular, alignment indicia along the perimeter of the plate may be clearly seen in the patient using a radiograph, fluoroscope or other x-ray device. Visual confirmation that such alignment indicia is properly aligned with an anatomical feature also showing up on the x-ray device, provides assurance that the bone plate is properly implanted in the patient. In other embodiments, other biocompatible materials may be used that compliment different imaging procedures available to the surgeon, such as magnetic resonance imaging or ultrasound. Such materials and complimentary imaging procedures will be readily recognized by those of skill in the art.
The rigidity and resiliency of the material used for the bone plate may vary, depending upon the application. For example, if the bone plate is used in association with a fracture, the material may be more rigid such that the bone plate prevents movement of the bone along the fracture. As another example, if the implant is provided along a joint, the implant may be comprised of more flexible material, allowing some limited movement of the joint.
In operation, the bone plate or other implant device is provided to the surgeon along with instructions for implantation of the bone plate. Preferably, the surgeon will read the instructions to obtain an understanding of proper placement of the implant within the patient. However, regardless of whether the surgeon reads the provided instructions, the alignment indicia provided on the implant will assist the surgeon with proper alignment of the implant. In particular, in order to properly orient and align the implant in the patient, the surgeon simply aligns the alignment indicia with an anatomical feature of the patient. Such alignment may include, for example, pointing or aligning one or more protrusions or indentations provided along the perimeter of the implant toward an anatomical feature on the patient, such as a joint line or a fracture. Etching may be provided on the implant to further assist the surgeon with proper alignment of the implant. In lieu of etching, a sticker or piece of paper that includes implant instructions related to the alignment indicia may be provided on the implant or packaged with the implant.
After using the alignment indicia to properly place the implant against one or more bones, the surgeon secures the implant to the bone. For example, if the bone plate 10 of
Before actually fixing the implant to the patient, an imaging procedure may be used to confirm proper placement of the implant with respect to the anatomical feature of the patient. For example, fluoroscopy may be used to confirm that the bone plate is correctly placed on the bone relative to a bone fracture, joint line, tendon or ligament attachment site, or other anatomical feature. Because the alignment indicia is provided along the perimeter of the implant, the alignment indicia can be clearly seen during fluoroscopy and other imaging procedures. If the implant is properly positioned in the patient, the surgeon proceeds with fixing the implant to the patient. Imaging procedures may also be used following surgery to confirm that the implant remains in a correct or optimal position in the patient with respect to a particular anatomic feature of the patient.
Although the present invention has been described with respect to certain preferred embodiments, it will be appreciated by those of skill in the art that other implementations and adaptations are possible. Moreover, there are advantages to individual advancements described herein that may be obtained without incorporating other aspects described above. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the preferred embodiments contained herein.
