Depuy Synthes Products, Inc.

Synthes Usa, LLC

Synthes Gmbh

Mark P Grady, Jr

Keith A Mayo

Brett R Bolhofner

Scott Didomenico

Kenny Koay

Jeff W Mast

René Haag

Jeffrey W Mast

Rene Haag

William N Woodburn, Sr

Jason S Chan

Garry Hayeck

Henry Kim

William N Woodburn

The present invention is directed to a bone plate and its method of use for reducing a bone fracture, the bone plate having a longitudinal axis, the bone plate comprising an upper surface, a lower surface, a first hole for engaging a head of a first bone anchor. The first hole is configured and adapted to fix a shaft of the first bone anchor along a first axis. A second hole is spaced apart from the first hole along the longitudinal axis. The second hole is for engaging a head of a second bone anchor, and is configured and adapted to fix a shaft of the second bone anchor along a second axis. The first hole and the second hole are configured such that the first axis and the second axis define a single plane and intersect at a point below the lower surface. The shafts of the first and second bone anchors may touch or nearly touch at the point of intersection, such that the first and second bone anchors form a truss.

Bone plate

A bone plate includes (a) a body having a first surface which, in an operative configuration, faces away from a bone on which the plate is to be mounted and a second surface, which in the operative configuration, faces the bone, the body including a first section extending along a first longitudinal axis and a second section extending along a second longitudinal axis angled with respect to the first longitudinal axis; (b) a first hole extending through the body from the first surface to the second surface and defining a first hole axis, the first hole being structured to lockingly engage a head of a first bone anchor inserted therein such that a shaft of the first bone anchor extends along the first hole axis; and (c) a second hole extending through the body and spaced apart from the first hole. The second hole defines a second hole axis and is structured to lockingly engage a head of a second bone anchor inserted therein such that a shaft of the second bone anchor extends along the second hole axis. The first and second hole axes defines a single plane and intersecting at a point on a side of the bone plate facing the second surface.

Methods for implanting bone plates

A modular bone fixation linkage includes a plurality of interconnected links that can angulate with respect to an adjacent one of the links about at least one axis, such as three axes. The links can further include fixation holes that are configured to receive bone anchors that secure the links to an underlying anatomical structure.

Bone fixation system

An aiming guide aligns a surgical tool with a hole in a bone plate. The aiming guide includes an arm portion having a longitudinal axis, top and bottom surfaces, and first and second ends. The aiming guide further includes a handle portion having upper and lower ends. The handle portion is, at its lower end, connected to the bone plate. The handle portion is, at its upper end, connected to the arm portion. Bores extend from the top surface to the lower surface of the arm portion. Each bore is configured and dimensioned to receive a tool guide in at least two different preset positions which locates the channel in at least two different hole positions. The bore includes two diametrically opposed slots extending along at least a portion of a length of the bore, the slots configured and dimensioned to mate with diametrically opposed knobs extending radially outward from a tool guide. The tool guide has a head and a sleeve portion, which has a centered channel. The sleeve portion and channel are eccentric with respect to the head portion. The tool guide is inserted in a first preset position in order to align a surgical tool with one portion of a two-portion bone plate hole, or in a second preset position rotated 180 &#xb0; from the first preset position, in order to align a surgical tool with the second portion of a two-portion bone plate hole.

Aiming arm for bone plates

An aiming guide aligns a surgical tool with a hole in a bone plate. The aiming guide includes an arm portion having a longitudinal axis, top and bottom surfaces, and first and second ends. The aiming guide further includes a handle portion having upper and lower ends. The handle portion is, at its lower end, connected to the bone plate. The handle portion is, at its upper end, connected to the arm portion. Bores extend from the top surface to the lower surface of the arm portion. Each bore is configured and dimensioned to receive a tool guide in at least two different preset positions which locates the channel in at least two different hole positions. The bore includes two diametrically opposed slots extending along at least a portion of a length of the bore, the slots configured and dimensioned to mate with diametrically opposed knobs extending radially outward from a tool guide. The tool guide has a head and a sleeve portion, which has a centered channel. The sleeve portion and channel are eccentric with respect to the head portion. The tool guide is inserted in a first preset position in order to align a surgical tool with one portion of a two-portion bone plate hole, or in a second preset position rotated 180&#xb0; from the first preset position, in order to align a surgical tool with the second portion of a two-portion bone plate hole.

A bone plate has an upper surface, a lower surface, and at least one first hole extending through the upper and lower surfaces. The first hole has two or three vertically separate regions, each region communicating with or abutting an adjacent region. The first hole has a first unthreaded upper region, which has a curved inward taper from the plate's upper surface toward the plate's lower surface. The first hole has a second threaded middle region, which has a conical inward taper from the plate's upper surface toward the plate's lower surface. A third unthreaded lower region has a conical outward taper from the plate's upper surface toward the plate's lower surface. The bone plate may be straight, curved, or include a combination of both straight and curved segments.

A bone plate for fixation of a fractured bone includes a first portion having a first longitudinal axis and a second portion having a second longitudinal axis. The second portion is angled with respect to the first portion. The first portion has at least one hole for receiving a bone anchor having a shaft. The hole has a first hole portion defining a first central axis substantially perpendicular to a lower surface of the first portion and configured to receive the bone anchor. The hole includes a second hole portion overlapping and in communication with the first hole portion from upper to lower surface defining a second central axis substantially angled with respect to the first central axis, and configured to receive the bone anchor such that the shaft is substantially angled with respect to the second portion of the bone plate so as to form a truss.

Growing community of inventors

West Chester, PA, United States of America

Mark P Grady, Jr