BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a side elevation of an olecranon plate and olecranon
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an olecranon plate with locking section
FIG. 3 is a top plan view of an olecranon plate with locking section
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the K wires when in place with the locking section and fastener
FIG. 4
a is a cross section view of the K wires, locking section and fastener
FIG. 5 is a cross section view of the fastener engaging the K wires
FIG. 6 illustrates an inverted perspective view of the fastener
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the olecranon plate
FIG. 8 illustrates a cross sectional view of the femoral stem cap
FIG. 9 is a top plan view of a further embodiment of an olecranon plate
FIG. 10 is a top plan view of a threaded fastener
FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the fastener depicted in FIG. 10
FIG. 12 is a detailed plan view of the olecranon plate, K wires and fastener
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The bone plate of the present invention is adapted for fractures of the olecranon but the principles taught herein, particularly with regard to the fastening of K wires, may have application in a variety of K wire fixation systems. FIG. 1 illustrates the ulna bone 102 and olecranon 104. The olecranon plate 106 is attached to the ulnar shaft using screws (not shown). One end of the olecranon plate is bent to shape the curve of the ulna 108. One or more, and in this example two laterally spaced, parallel K wires 112 pass through the olecranon plate 110 and into the ulna.
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the plate comprises a notched or segmented shaft portion 202, with at one or more counter-bored shaft screw hole 204 for cooperating fixation screws. Opposing notches that define the segments allow the shaft to be bent, as required. The screw or screws are used to attach the plate to the shaft of the ulna. The plate 202 has a curved end 206 with two screw holes 208 and 210 that are used hold the curved portion against the curved section of the ulna. A rectangular locking section 212 lies, for example, between these last two screw holes and has a slot formed by two interconnected openings 214 and 216. In this example the locking section is wider than the remainder of the plate, providing optimum spacing for the K wires. The openings are for receiving the K wires. The slot also receives the wedge 424 of the fastener (see FIG. 4). The slot 214, 216 is flanked by a pair of generally parallel and rectangular openings 220, 221. The openings 220, 221 and the slot 214, 216 are contained within the sidewalls of shallow well 223 having rounded ends 224.
FIG. 4 illustrates the locking section 412 with K wires 408 and 410 and fastener 414 in place. The fastener is threadless and acts like a clamp, resisting the movement of the K wires through the fastener in one direction more than the other. The fastener 414 slides into position within the well in the locking section by pushing it over the ends of the K wires once they are in place.
As shown in FIG. 4a (and with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6), the clamping fastener 414 comprises a cap 604 with smooth upper edges that is received within the well of the locking section. The cap has two through holes 421, 422, 610 in it, each one receiving a K wire 423. A lower surface of the cap has extending from it a rigid locking wedge 424 and a pair of locking tabs 425 that deflect, slide into, and engage the openings 420, 421. The locking wedge and tabs are located between the holes 421, 422. The holes 421, 422 are in registry with the slanted lateral sides of the wedge such that the slanted sides 427 make contact with the K wires. The slanted edges have a protruding gripping edge 426 located toward the bottom extent 428 of the wedge. As shown in FIG. 4a, the short portion 429 of the wedge's side, below the edge 426, forms a sharper angle with respect to the K wire than the portion of the side 430 above the edge 426. In this way, the K wire is more easily drawn in one direction 441 than in the opposite direction. This feature resists inadvertent withdrawal of the K wires from the fastener 414.
As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the clamping fastener 504 is shown as having two parallel tabs 512 with inwardly directed flanged tips 514 that enter the openings 220, 221, by deflecting, then snap over cooperating locking bars 506 in the locking section. The locking bars are located between the slot 214, 216 and the two openings 220, 221. This action secures the fastener to the plate.
The plate of the present invention allows for the use of either screws or K wires for proximal fixation. FIG. 7 illustrates a lateral view of the olecranon plate with a K wire 706 inserted through a receiving hole thus fixing the plate to the ulnar shaft.
The olecranon plate of the present invention is anatomically specific for the fixation of olecranon fractures of the elbow. It is metal, for example, 316L stainless steel. It may use conventional dimensions for DCP screw holes, and provisional fixation holes.
Another embodiment of the olecranon plate of the present invention is depicted in FIGS. 9-12. As shown in FIG. 9, the olecranon plate 600 includes an enlarged locking section 601 that includes lateral ears 602 that project from the side edges of the main body 603. A threaded opening 604 is formed in the central part of the locking section 601. The treaded opening 604 is adapted to receive a fastener of the type that will be disclosed with reference to FIGS. 10 and 11. Additional through holes 605, 606 are provided for the K wires. The K wire holes 605, 606 intersect the side walls of the threaded opening 604 thereby defining a gap 607, 608 that allows the exterior surfaces of the K wires to actually protrude through the threaded side walls of the threaded opening 604. This is shown in FIG. 12. Note that the top surface of the body 603 is provided with diametrically opposed, preferably laser etched, orientation marks 609, 610.
A fastener that is particularly adapted to the olecranon plate depicted in FIG. 9 is shown in FIGS. 10 and 11. The fastener is for example based on an M8×1 hex head grub screw type fastener, particular one that is adapted to fit a Synthesis 3.5 mm hex driver. The fastener 700 is thus provided with a hexagonal shaped driver hole 701 and diametrally opposed orientation marks 702, 703 that align with the orientation marks 609, 610 on the olecranon plate 600. When the alignment marks (e.g. 702, 703, 609, 610) are in alignment, longitudinal grooves 704, 705 will be in registry with the K wire gaps 607, 608. This particular orientation is depicted in FIG. 12. Like the alignment mark 702, 703, the upper surface of the fastener 700 is provided with laser etched arrows 706 that indicate clockwise rotation of the fastener which is the correct rotation for tightening the fastener against the K wires. It will be appreciated that the fastener 700 is provided with external threads although these threads are either not formed or obliterated in the area of the grooves 704, 705. As shown in FIG. 11, the shaded area 801 indicates the threaded external portion of the fastener 700. The groove areas 704, 705 need to be deep enough that the protruding portions the K wires are received by the grooves 704, 705 as shown in FIG. 12.
As shown in FIG. 12, the fastener is used by first inserting and threading it into the threaded opening 604 when it is sufficiently threaded in to be within about a quarter turn of its final orientation and with the fastener's alignment marks 702, 703 in alignment with the body's alignment marks 609, 610. The resulting sub-assembly is ready for receiving the K wires 901, 902. Note that a portion 903 of the proximal end of the K wire protrudes through the gap 608 and into the area of the groove 704. In this orientation, the fastener does not interfere or necessarily even contact the K wire. Upon rotation of the fastener, by about say one quarter of a turn, the sharp threaded exterior surface of the fastener gradually begins to make contact with the K wire by actually cutting into the body of the K wire creating a mechanical interlocking of the fastener with the K wires. In preferred embodiments there is a transition zone 905 where the radius of the exterior of the fastener increases gradually from its minimum at the base of the groove 704, 705 out to the maximum radius of the fastener. This allows the threads to be gradually introduced into the K wire and thus facilitating locking of the fastener into the metallic bodies of the K wires.
Femoral Stem Cap
The femoral stem cap is a plastic protective cap that is placed over the femoral stem after the ball has been removed during total hip replacement surgery. The stem cap is round in cross section and internally tapered to fit snugly over, for example, the 12-14 Euro taper or Morse taper of the stem trunion. It may be externally tapered to reduce material consumption during manufacture. FIG. 1 illustrates a cutaway lateral view of the stem cap. The cap 800 has a sidewall 802 and a top wall 804. The top wall has a central round vent 806 that allows the escape of air while positioning the cap over the femoral stem. The interior of the cap 808 features a Morse taper that matches the taper on the femoral stem. The cap edge has a piloted opening 801 that allows for easy insertion and removal. The femoral stem cap is sized to fit the common sizes of trunion tapers used. It is made of plastic and is preferably sterile when applied.
Patent Application
20080021475
