US2012323284A1PendingUtilityA1

Variable angle locking implant

50
Individually held — no corporate assignee on recordPriority: Jun 15, 2011Filed: Jun 15, 2012Published: Dec 20, 2012
Est. expiryJun 15, 2031(~4.9 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Charles R. BakerRyan A. StevensonDarin S. Gerlach
A61B 2017/564A61B 17/8052
50
PatentIndex Score
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Claims

Abstract

A variable angle locking implant includes a bone plate having a lower surface, an upper surface, and at least one opening extending from the lower surface to the upper surface along an axis. The opening has a plurality of fins oriented along a plane. The axis is non-perpendicular to a tangent of a projection of the lower surface across the opening, the tangent defined at the intersection between the axis and the projected lower surface, and/or the plane is non-parallel to the tangent. The implant includes at least one fastener, and the plurality of fins are deflectable relative to a head portion of the fastener such that the fastener can be inserted and retained at any one of a plurality of angles.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
1 . A variable angle locking implant comprising:
 a bone plate having
 a lower surface; 
 an upper surface; and 
 at least one opening extending from the lower surface to the upper surface along an axis, the opening having an inner surface with a plurality of fins oriented along a plane, wherein the axis is non-perpendicular to a tangent of a projection of the lower surface across the opening, the tangent defined at the intersection between the axis and the projected lower surface, and/or the plane is non-parallel to the tangent. 
   
     
     
         2 . The implant of  claim 1  wherein the lower surface comprises a bone conforming arcuate surface. 
     
     
         3 . The implant of  claim 2  wherein the lower surface is adapted to contact a distal femur, a proximal femur, a distal tibia, a proximal tibia, a proximal humerus, a distal humerus, a clavicle, a fibula, an ulna, a radius, a distal radius, a rib, pelvis, a vertebra, bones of the foot, or bones of the hand. 
     
     
         4 . The implant of  claim 2  wherein the fins are positioned within the opening. 
     
     
         5 . The implant of  claim 1  wherein the axis is perpendicular to the tangent and the plane is non-parallel to the tangent. 
     
     
         6 . The implant of  claim 1  wherein the axis is non-perpendicular to the tangent and the plane is non-parallel to the tangent. 
     
     
         7 . The implant of  claim 1  wherein the axis is non-perpendicular to the tangent and the plane is perpendicular to the axis. 
     
     
         8 . The implant of  claim 1  wherein the fins are integrally connected to, and protruding from, the inner surface. 
     
     
         9 . The implant of  claim 8  wherein the opening has a radius between the inner surface and a top surface of the fins, and each fin tapers in thickness from the inner surface towards its terminal end. 
     
     
         10 . The implant of  claim 8  wherein the opening is further defined by a jagged circumference formed by protruding fins at the lower surface. 
     
     
         11 . The implant of  claim 8  wherein the protruding fins form a concave portion of the inner surface. 
     
     
         12 . The implant of  claim 8  wherein the protruding fins have bases that meet the inner surface along the plane. 
     
     
         13 . The implant of  claim 1  wherein the fins have a tapered shape or a straight shape. 
     
     
         14 . The implant of  claim 1  wherein the fins are provided in more than one layer. 
     
     
         15 . The implant of  claim 1  wherein the fins are trapezoidally-shaped, rounded, oval, rectangular, curved, rhomboid, diamond-shaped, or triangular. 
     
     
         16 . The implant of  claim 1  wherein the edges of the fins taper inwardly, outwardly, or are about parallel with one another. 
     
     
         17 . The implant of  claim 1  comprising at least  3 , but no more than  10 , fins integrally connected to, and protruding from, the inner surface. 
     
     
         18 . The implant of  claim 1  wherein the fins are provided as a series of concavely indented, inwardly protruding fins that are adapted to secure a threaded head of a fastener in place at varying angles. 
     
     
         19 . The implant of  claim 1  wherein the bone plate further comprises one or more of the following openings: a threaded opening; a non-threaded opening; an opening adapted to receive locking or non-locking fasteners; an opening with fins; a provisional fixation opening; a combination slot; or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         20 . The implant of  claim 1  further comprising at least one fastener, the fastener being at least partially threaded and having a head portion and a shaft portion, wherein the opening is adapted to receive the fastener without being tapped by the fastener, wherein the plurality of fins are deflectable relative to the head portion of the fastener when the fastener is inserted into the opening such that the fastener can be inserted and retained at any one of a plurality of angles relative to the opening. 
     
     
         21 . The implant of  claim 20  wherein the fins are deflectable so that the fins are interposed between the threads of the fastener. 
     
     
         22 . The implant of  claim 1  wherein the inner surface comprises threads located above or below the fins. 
     
     
         23 . A method for securing a bone plate to a bone, comprising:
 placing a lower surface of the bone plate against the bone;   inserting a fastener into an opening in the bone plate, the opening having an axis that is non-perpendicular to a tangent of a projection of the lower surface across the opening, the tangent defined at the intersection between the axis and the projected lower surface;   selecting a trajectory of the fastener into the bone, the trajectory being up to about 15 degrees off the hole axis; and   inserting the fastener into the bone.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23  wherein either a locking screw or a non-locking screw is inserted in the opening. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 23  wherein the fastener is removed and re-inserted into the opening of the bone plate at any one of a plurality of angles. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 23  wherein inserting the fastener into the bone comprises drawing a bone fragment into alignment with an intact bone segment. 
     
     
         27 . The implant of  claim 1  wherein at least one opening has an axis that is non-perpendicular to the tangent and at least one opening has an axis that is perpendicular to the tangent. 
     
     
         28 . The implant of  claim 1  wherein at least one opening has an axis that is non-perpendicular to the tangent and at least one opening is threaded. 
     
     
         29 . The implant of  claim 1  wherein at least one opening has an axis that is non-perpendicular to the tangent and at least one opening is non-threaded. 
     
     
         30 . The implant of  claim 1  wherein at least one opening has an axis that is perpendicular to the tangent and at least one opening is threaded. 
     
     
         31 . The implant of  claim 1  wherein at least one opening has an axis that is perpendicular to the tangent and at least one opening is non-threaded.

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