Claims
- 1. An osteosynthesis extension plate for immobilizing at least two adjacent bone segments by means of screws which may be screwed into the bone segments through openings in the extension plate, wherein the extension plate comprises:
longitudinal edges; transverse edges; a first bone contacting surface; a second non-bone contacting surface; a thick plate portion; a thin plate portion; and at least two rows of pairs of through openings, wherein a first pair of through openings is arranged in the thick plate portion and a second pair of through openings is arranged in the thin plate portion such that the thin plate portion can be inserted underneath and affixed between a second osteosynthesis plate and a bone segment.
- 2. An extension plate in accordance with claim 1, wherein the thin plate portion of the extension plate can be positioned underneath a thick portion of an identical extension plate to provide for immobilization of adjacent bone segments.
- 3. An extension plate in accordance with claim 1, wherein the extension plate is curved in the direction transverse to its longitudinal axis such that the first bone contacting surface is concave.
- 4. An extension plate in accordance with claim 1, wherein the second osteosynthesis plate is a previously implanted plate.
- 5. An extension plate in accordance with claim 1, wherein at least two rows of pairs of through openings are arranged in the thick plate portion for immobilization of at least two adjacent bone segments.
- 6. An extension plate in accordance with claim 1, wherein the through openings are elongated slots.
- 7. An extension plate in accordance with claim 6, wherein the slots arranged in the thin plate portion are open-ended at the transverse edge of the thin plate portion.
- 8. An extension plate in accordance with claim 7, wherein the open-ended slots have beveled edges for ease of insertion underneath a previously implanted plate.
- 9. An extension plate in accordance with claim 7, wherein the thin plate portion of the extension plate can be positioned underneath a thick portion of an identical extension plate to provide for immobilization of adjacent bone segments.
- 10. An extension plate in accordance with claim 7, wherein the extension plate is curved in the direction transverse to its longitudinal axis such that the first bone contacting surface is concave.
- 11. An extension plate in accordance with claim 7, wherein the second osteosynthesis plate is a previously implanted plate.
- 12. An extension plate in accordance with claim 7, wherein at least two rows of pairs of through openings are arranged in the thick plate portion for immobilization of at least two adjacent bone segments.
- 13. An extension plate in accordance with claim 7, further comprising side rails arranged at the longitudinal edges of the thin plate portion and extending above the second non-bone contacting surface such that the side rails are substantially parallel to edge surfaces of the second osteosynthesis plate when said extension plate is positioned underneath the second osteosynthesis plate.
- 14. An extension plate in accordance with claim 13, wherein the side rails interlock with grooves cut into the edge surfaces of the second osteosynthesis plate.
- 15. An osteosynthesis extension plate for immobilizing at least two adjacent bone segments by means of screws which may be screwed into the bone segments through openings in the extension plate, wherein the extension plate comprises:
contoured longitudinal edges; contoured transverse edges; a first bone contacting surface; a second non-bone contacting surface; a thick plate portion having at least one row of pairs of through openings; and a thin plate portion having at least one through opening; wherein the thick plate portion has a substantially larger transverse dimension than the thin plate portion, said thin plate portion being dimensioned to fit within a groove provided in a non-bone contacting surface of a second osteosynthesis plate such that the thin plate portion can be affixed to the second osteosynthesis plate without the need to remove existing screws affixing the second osteosynthesis plate.
- 16. An extension plate in accordance with claim 15, further comprising:
a T-shaped portion extending from the thin plate portion.
- 17. An osteosynthesis extension plate for immobilizing at least two adjacent bone segments by means of screws which may be screwed into the bone segments through openings in the extension plate, wherein the extension plate comprises:
contoured longitudinal edges; contoured transverse edges; a first bone contacting surface; a second non-bone contacting surface; a plate portion having at least one row of pairs of through openings; and two extension arms extending longitudinally from the plate portion, said arms being dimensioned to fit alongside a second osteosynthesis plate.
- 18. An extension plate in accordance with claim 17, wherein said extension plate is adapted to be affixed to the second osteosynthesis plate by a clamping device.
- 19. An extension plate in accordance with claim 17, further comprising:
a groove in each of said extension arms for accommodating lengthwise edge surfaces of the second osteosynthesis plate when said extension plate is positioned adjacent the second osteosynthesis plate.
- 20. An extension plate in accordance with claim 19, wherein said groove extends from a tip of one extension arm to a tip of the other extension arm.
- 21. An extension plate in accordance with claim 20, further comprising:
a contoured section extending between a base of each extension arm, said contoured section adapted to conform to a contoured transverse edge of said second osteosynthesis plate.
- 22. An extension plate in accordance with claim 17, further comprising:
an additional single through opening positioned in a center portion of said plate portion above said at least one row of pairs of through openings.
- 23. An extension plate in accordance with claim 17, wherein said through openings comprise elongated slots.
- 24. A method for immobilizing at least two adjacent bone segments comprising the steps of:
fixing a first portion of an osteosynthesis extension plate to a bone segment by screws which may be screwed into the bone segment through openings in the extension plate; fixing a second portion of the extension plate to an adjacent bone segment; wherein the extension plate comprises:
longitudinal edges; transverse edges; a first bone contacting surface; a second non-bone contacting surface; a thick plate portion; a thin plate portion; and at least two rows of pairs of through openings; wherein a first pair of through openings is arranged in the thick plate portion and a second pair of through openings is arranged in the thin plate portion such that the thin plate portion can be inserted underneath and affixed between a second osteosynthesis plate and a bone segment.
- 25. A method in accordance with claim 24, wherein the second osteosynthesis plate is a previously implanted plate.
- 26. A method in accordance with claim 24, wherein the thin plate portion of the extension plate is positioned underneath a thick portion of an identical extension plate to provide for immobilization of adjacent bone segments.
- 27. A method in accordance with claim 24, wherein the extension plate is curved in the direction transverse to its longitudinal axis such that the first bone contacting surface is concave.
- 28. A method in accordance with claim 24, wherein at least two rows of pairs of through openings are arranged in the thick plate portion for immobilization of at least two adjacent bone segments.
- 29. A method in accordance with claim 24, wherein the through openings are elongated slots.
- 30. A method in accordance with claim 29, wherein the slots arranged in the thin plate portion are open-ended at the transverse edge of the thin plate portion.
- 31. A method in accordance with claim 30, wherein the open-ended slots have beveled edges for ease of insertion underneath a previously implanted plate.
- 32. A method in accordance with claim 30, wherein the thin plate portion of the extension plate is positioned underneath a thick portion of an identical extension plate to provide for immobilization of adjacent bone segments.
- 33. A method in accordance with claim 30, wherein the extension plate is curved in the direction transverse to its longitudinal axis such that the first bone contacting surface is concave.
- 34. A method in accordance with claim 30, wherein the second osteosynthesis plate is a previously implanted plate.
- 35. A method in accordance with claim 30, wherein at least two rows of pairs of through openings are arranged in the thick plate portion for immobilization of at least two adjacent bone segments.
- 36. A method in accordance with claim 30, wherein side rails are arranged at the longitudinal edges of the thin portion of the plate and extend above the second non-bone contacting surface such that the side rails are substantially parallel to edge surfaces of the second osteosynthesis plate when said extension plate is positioned underneath the second osteosynthesis plate.
- 37. A method in accordance with claim 36, wherein the side rails interlock with grooves cut into the edge surfaces of the second osteosynthesis plate.
- 38. A method in accordance with claim 24, wherein multiple extension plates are used to immobilize multiple adjacent bone segments.
- 39. A method for immobilizing at least two adjacent bone segments comprising the steps of:
fixing a first portion of an osteosynthesis extension plate to a bone segment by screws which may be screwed into the bone segment through openings in the extension plate; fixing a second portion of the extension plate to an adjacent bone segment; wherein the extension plate comprises:
contoured longitudinal edges; contoured transverse edges; a first bone contacting surface; a second non-bone contacting surface; a thick plate portion having at least one row of pairs of through openings; and a thin plate portion having at least one through opening; wherein the thick plate portion has a substantially larger transverse dimension than the thin plate portion, said thin plate portion being dimensioned to fit within a groove provided in a non-bone contacting surface of a second osteosynthesis plate such that the thin plate portion can be affixed to the second osteosynthesis plate without the need to remove existing screws affixing the second osteosynthesis plate.
- 40. A method in accordance with claim 39, wherein a T-shaped portion extends from the thin plate portion of the extension plate.
- 41. A method for immobilizing at least two adjacent bone segments comprising the steps of:
fixing a first portion of an osteosynthesis extension plate to a bone segment by screws which may be screwed into the bone segment through openings in the extension plate; fixing a second portion of the extension plate to an adjacent bone segment; wherein the extension plate comprises:
contoured longitudinal edges; contoured transverse edges; a first bone contacting surface; a second non-bone contacting surface; a plate portion having at least one row of pairs of through openings; and two extension arms extending longitudinally from the plate portion, said arms being dimensioned to fit alongside a second osteosynthesis plate.
- 42. A method in accordance with claim 41, wherein:
said extension plate is adapted to be affixed to the second osteosynthesis plate by a clamping device.
- 43. A method in accordance with claim 41, further comprising:
a groove in each of said extension arms for accommodating lengthwise edge surfaces of the second osteosynthesis plate when said extension plate is positioned adjacent the second osteosynthesis plate.
- 44. A method in accordance with claim 43, wherein said groove extends from a tip of one extension arm to a tip of the other extension arm.
- 45. An extension plate in accordance with claim 44, further comprising:
a contoured section extending between a base of each extension arm, said contoured section adapted to conform to a contoured transverse edge of said second osteosynthesis plate.
- 46. An extension plate in accordance with claim 41, further comprising:
an additional single through opening positioned in a center portion of said plate portion above said at least one row of pairs of through openings.
- 47. An extension plate in accordance with claim 41, wherein said through openings comprise elongated slots.
Parent Case Info
[0001] The present application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/708,806 filed on Nov. 8, 2000.
Continuation in Parts (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09708806 |
Nov 2000 |
US |
Child |
10234647 |
Sep 2002 |
US |