Bone fracture fixation system

Abstract

A bone fracture fixation system including a bone plate having a contour that substantially matches the contour of an underlying bone. The bone fracture fixation system can also include a jig that can be moved relative to non-parallel cannulas guided by the jig into operative position relative to a bone plate. In one embodiment, the jig includes grooves which do not completely surround the perimeter of the cannulas guided by the jig. The bone fracture fixation system can also include a jig including guides having a position and orientation which is adjustable relative to other ones of the guides. In one embodiment, the jig includes two portions that can articulate with respect to each other. The bone fracture fixation system can also include a wire bender that can bend a wire greater than 180 degrees so that both ends of the wire can be inserted into a fractured bone.

1 . A bone fracture fixation system, comprising: 
 a bone plate;    a guide having an axis and a perimeter in a plane substantially perpendicular to said axis; and    a jig aligned with the bone plate, said jig comprising a body having a first groove sized to receive and orient the guide relative to the bone plate,    wherein said first groove only partially encloses the perimeter of said guide.    
   
   
       2 . The bone fracture fixation system of  claim 1 , wherein said first groove has a first longitudinal axis, and wherein said body includes a second groove sized to receive a second guide, said second groove having a second longitudinal axis, said first longitudinal axis not parallel with said second longitudinal axis.  
   
   
       3 . The bone fracture fixation system of  claim 1 , wherein one of said body and said bone plate further comprises a projection having a geometry, and the other of said body and said bone plate includes a recess having a geometry complementary to said geometry of said projection.  
   
   
       4 . A method of aligning a guide with a bone plate, comprising the steps of: 
 aligning a jig with the bone plate, the jig having a groove sized to receive the guide;    inserting a guide into the groove of the jig;    aligning the guide with the groove; and    translating the jig away from the bone plate in a direction not parallel to a longitudinal axis of the guide, while maintaining the guide in alignment with the bone plate.    
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein said guide includes a second groove, said method further comprising the steps of: 
 inserting a second guide into the second groove of the jig; and    aligning the second guide with the second groove, wherein said translating step occurs with the second guide aligned with the bone plate, and wherein said direction of said translating step is not parallel to a longitudinal axis of the second guide when the second guide is aligned with the bone plate.    
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the longitudinal axis of the first guide is not parallel with the longitudinal axis of the second guide when the first guide and the second guide are aligned with the bone plate.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the bone plate includes an aperture, and wherein said step of aligning the jig with the bone plate effects alignment of the groove of the jig with the aperture of the bone plate.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the bone plate includes a second aperture and wherein the jig includes a second groove, said step of aligning the jig with the bone plate effecting alignment of the second groove of the jig with the second aperture of the bone plate.  
   
   
       9 . A bone fracture fixation system, comprising: 
 a bone plate;    a first guide, the first guide having a longitudinal axis; and    a jig aligned with the bone plate, the jig comprising a body having alignment means for aligning the first guide with the bone plate and for allowing translation of the jig relative to the bone plate in a direction that is not parallel to the longitudinal axis of the first guide, when the first guide is aligned with the bone plate.    
   
   
       10 . The bone fracture fixation system of  claim 9 , further comprising a second guide having a longitudinal axis, said alignment means further including means for aligning the second guide with the bone plate and allowing translation of the jig relative to the bone plate in a direction that is not parallel to the longitudinal axis of the second guide, when the second guide is aligned with the bone plate.  
   
   
       11 . The bone fracture fixation system of  claim 10 , wherein the longitudinal axis of the first guide is not parallel to the longitudinal axis of the second guide when the first guide and the second guide are aligned with the bone plate.  
   
   
       12 . The bone fracture fixation system of  claim 9 , wherein one of said body and said bone plate further includes a projection having a geometry, and the other of said body and said bone plate includes a recess having a geometry complementary to said geometry of said projection.  
   
   
       13 . A bone fracture fixation system, comprising: 
 a bone plate; and    a jig adapted to align with said bone plate,    wherein one of said bone plate and said jig includes a first projection having a geometry, the other of said bone plate and said jig including a first recess having a geometry complementary to said geometry of said first projection.    
   
   
       14 . The bone fracture fixation system of  claim 13 , further comprising: 
 a second bone plate; and    a second jig,    wherein one of said second bone plate and said second jig includes a second projection having a geometry different from said first projection, the other of said second bone plate and said second jig including a second recess having a geometry complementary to said second projection geometry.    
   
   
       15 . The bone fracture fixation system of  claim 14 , wherein said first recess cannot receive said second projection and wherein said second recess cannot receive said first projection.  
   
   
       16 . A jig for aligning a guide with a bone plate, comprising: 
 a first body adapted to align with the bone plate about a first axis;    a second body adapted to align with the bone plate, said second body having a guide surface sized for receiving the guide, said second body movably secured to said first body, said second body movable with respect to said first body about a second axis, said second axis non-collinear with said first axis.    
   
   
       17 . The jig of  claim 16 , further comprising a fastener positioned to selectively lock said second body to said first body to prevent relative movement between said first body and said second body.  
   
   
       18 . The jig of  claim 16 , further comprising articulating means for allowing said second body to articulate with respect to said first body to align said second body with the bone plate.  
   
   
       19 . The jig of  claim 16 , wherein said first body includes a head portion, and said second body includes an elongate portion.  
   
   
       20 . A jig for aligning a guide with a bone plate, comprising: 
 a first body adapted to align with a bone plate;    a second body adapted to align with the bone plate, said second body having a guide surface sized for receiving a guide, said second body movably secured to said first body; and    articulating means for allowing said second body to articulate with respect to said first body to align said second body with the bone plate.    
   
   
       21 . The jig of  claim 20 , further comprising a fastener positioned to selectively lock said first body to said second body to prevent relative movement between said first body and said second body.  
   
   
       22 . A method of adapting a jig to a bone plate, comprising: 
 aligning a first body of the jig with the bone plate about a first axis;    attaching the first body of the jig to the bone plate, the jig including a second body movably secured to the first body, the second body movable with respect to the first body about a second axis non-collinear with the first axis; and    aligning the second body with respect to the bone plate.    
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising the step of locking the first body to the second body.  
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the second body includes a guide aperture and wherein said step of aligning the second body of the jig with respect to the bone plate comprises the step of inserting a guide through the guide aperture of the second body and securing the guide relative to the bone plate.  
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising the step of detaching the guide from the bone plate before the step of inserting the bone plate into a patient.