Bone plate with movable joint

Inventors

Ehmke, Larry W. • Conley, Brian R. • Seykora, Andrew W. • Hutton, Gregory D.

Assignees

Acumed LLC

Abstract

System, including methods and devices, for fixing bone. The system may include a bone plate having two or more plate members connected to one another with one or more movable joints. Each joint may permit the orientation of the plate members to be adjusted relative to one another in a single plane or two or more nonparallel planes. The joint may have a movable configuration and a fixed configuration. Methods of creating the bone plate are also provided.

Core Innovation

The invention provides a bone fixation system comprising a fastener configured to be inserted into bone and an adjustable bone plate. The adjustable bone plate includes a first plate member with a plurality of first openings and a second plate member with a plurality of second openings, with each first and second opening configured to receive a respective fastener. The plate members are mated so that the first and second plate members may rotate relative to one another about a pivot axis extending through a first opening and a second opening.

The adjustable plate further includes an elongate member permanently attached to one of the first or second plate members. A pivot axis is formed by alignment of the plurality of first and second openings, and the fastener is positioned through the first and second plate members along the pivot axis and configured to be positioned into the bone. When the permanently attached elongate member is positioned within a slot in the other plate member, the elongate member establishes a range of rotation for the mated first and second plate members.

The described bone plate configurations enable controlled rotational adjustment by mechanical engagement between the plate members and between the elongate member and the slot. The system can include plate member features that constrain relative motion, including slot and hinge arrangements that establish a range of rotation, and engagement geometries that support stable mated configuration while allowing rotation about the pivot axis. Additional refinements referenced include track and end-region positioning, where the slot and elongate member relationship establishes a controlled range of rotation for the adjustable plate members.

Claims Coverage

The partial content provided includes one independent claim (clm-00001), which defines the core system and several optional refinements reflected in dependent claims. The independent claim includes three core inventive elements: an adjustable two-piece bone plate with openings aligned on a pivot axis, a fastener positioned through both plate members into bone, and a permanently attached elongate member received in a slot to establish a range of rotation.

Across the provided independent claim, claim coverage is centered on a two-member adjustable bone plate that rotates about a pivot axis defined by overlapping openings, combined with a fastener passing along that pivot axis into bone, and a permanently attached elongate member retained in a slot to define a range of rotation.

Stated Advantages

Documented Applications

No documented applications found