US5676667A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Bone fixation apparatus and method
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1995-12-08
•
Granted: 1997-10-14
•
Expires: 2015-12-08
Abstract
Abstract A fixation plate for fixing the position of a fractured bone is provided. The fixation plate includes an elongated rigid plate having a plurality of first apertures spaced along the length of the plate. The first apertures are arranged and sized to receive threaded fasteners for fastening the plate to the bone on both sides of the fracture. The fixation plate also includes a plurality of second apertures spaced along the length of the plate. The second apertures, which are smaller than the first apertures, are arranged and sized to receive tacks to temporarily attach the plate to the bone on both sides of the fracture.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael Hausman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 04:51
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/56; A61B17/58; A61B17/68; A61B17/80; A61B17/8085; A61B17/84; A61B17/86; A61B17/8605; A61B17/8625; A61B17/8635; A61B90/00; A61B90/90
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
135 words
An elongated rigid fixation plate system for fixing the position of a fractured bone, said fixation plate system comprising: a plurality of first apertures located along the length of said fixation plate, said first apertures receiving a threaded fastener at both sides of a fracture for fastening the plate to the bone, wherein said threaded fastener has a shaft of a first diameter and a head; and a plurality of second apertures smaller than said first apertures located along the length of said fixation plate, such that two or more of said second apertures removably receive a tack to temporarily and firmly attach said fixation plate to the bone at both sides of said fracture, wherein said tack has an insertion portion of a second diameter smaller than said first diameter of said threaded fastener.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
135 words
An elongated rigid fixation plate system for fixing the position of a fractured bone, said fixation plate system comprising: a plurality of first apertures located along the length of said fixation plate, said first apertures receiving a threaded fastener at both sides of a fracture for fastening the plate to the bone, wherein said threaded fastener has a shaft of a first diameter and a head; and a plurality of second apertures smaller than said first apertures located along the length of said fixation plate, such that two or more of said second apertures removably receive a tack to temporarily and firmly attach said fixation plate to the bone at both sides of said fracture, wherein said tack has an insertion portion of a second diameter smaller than said first diameter of said threaded fastener.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
12 words
The fixation plate of claim 1, wherein said fixation plate is arcuate.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
41 words
The fixation plate of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of said first and second apertures, and said second apertures being arranged in a pattern between said first apertures, wherein said second apertures are centered along the length of the plate.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
The fixation plate of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of said first and second apertures, wherein said second apertures are arranged along the longitudinal edges of said fixation plate between said first apertures.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
40 words
The fixation plate of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of said first and second apertures and wherein said second apertures are arranged in a staggered pattern along the longitudinal edges of said fixation plate between successive said first apertures.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
The fixation system of claim 1, wherein the insertion portion of said tack is threaded.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
225 words
A fixation system for fixing the position of a fractured bone, said fixation system comprising: a plurality of threaded fasteners having a shaft of a first diameter and a head; an elongated plate having a plurality of first apertures spaced along the length of the plate, said first apertures being arranged and sized to receive said threaded fasteners for fastening the plate to the bone on both sides of the fracture, and a plurality of second apertures spaced along the length of the plate, the second apertures being arranged and sized to receive tacks for temporarily attaching the plate to the bone on both sides of the fracture, said second apertures being smaller than said first apertures; and a plurality of tacks each having an insertion portion, a handle portion and a transition portion, therebetween, said insertion portion having a second diameter smaller than said first diameter of said threaded fasteners, said tacks being so sized that the insertion portions of the tacks may be inserted through respective second apertures and into the bone so that the respective transition portion bears against the plate to temporarily and firmly attach the plate to the bone and said handle portion remaining externally protruding from said fixation plate, so that said tacks can be permanently removed after fastening said fixation plate to the bone by said threaded fasteners.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
225 words
A fixation system for fixing the position of a fractured bone, said fixation system comprising: a plurality of threaded fasteners having a shaft of a first diameter and a head; an elongated plate having a plurality of first apertures spaced along the length of the plate, said first apertures being arranged and sized to receive said threaded fasteners for fastening the plate to the bone on both sides of the fracture, and a plurality of second apertures spaced along the length of the plate, the second apertures being arranged and sized to receive tacks for temporarily attaching the plate to the bone on both sides of the fracture, said second apertures being smaller than said first apertures; and a plurality of tacks each having an insertion portion, a handle portion and a transition portion, therebetween, said insertion portion having a second diameter smaller than said first diameter of said threaded fasteners, said tacks being so sized that the insertion portions of the tacks may be inserted through respective second apertures and into the bone so that the respective transition portion bears against the plate to temporarily and firmly attach the plate to the bone and said handle portion remaining externally protruding from said fixation plate, so that said tacks can be permanently removed after fastening said fixation plate to the bone by said threaded fasteners.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
The fixation system of claim 7 wherein the second apertures are arranged in a pattern between successive first apertures centered along the length of the plate.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
The fixation system of claim 7 wherein the second apertures are arranged along the longitudinal edges of the plate between successive first apertures.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
The fixation system of claim 7 wherein the second apertures are arranged in a staggered pattern along the fixation plate.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
47 words
The fixation system of claim 7, wherein said threaded fasteners are sized so that the shaft of the threaded fastener may be inserted through a respective first aperture and into the bone so that the head bears against the plate to fasten the plate to the bone.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
The fixation system of claim 7 wherein the insertion portions of the tacks are threaded.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
117 words
A method of fastening a fixation plate to a fractured bone,comprising the steps of: positioning a fixation plate against said fractured bone, said fixation plate having a plurality of first apertures adapted to receive threaded fasteners for fastening said fixation plate to said fractured bone, said fixation plate further having a plurality of second apertures adapted to receive tacks for temporarily attaching said fixation plate to said fractured bone; attaching said fixation plate to said fractured bone by inserting tacks through at least some of said second apertures and into the bone; fastening said fixation plate to said fractured bone by inserting threaded fasteners through said first apertures and into said fractured bone; and removing said tacks.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
117 words
A method of fastening a fixation plate to a fractured bone,comprising the steps of: positioning a fixation plate against said fractured bone, said fixation plate having a plurality of first apertures adapted to receive threaded fasteners for fastening said fixation plate to said fractured bone, said fixation plate further having a plurality of second apertures adapted to receive tacks for temporarily attaching said fixation plate to said fractured bone; attaching said fixation plate to said fractured bone by inserting tacks through at least some of said second apertures and into the bone; fastening said fixation plate to said fractured bone by inserting threaded fasteners through said first apertures and into said fractured bone; and removing said tacks.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
70 words
The method of claim 13, wherein after said attaching step, the method further comprises the steps of: inspecting the position of said fixation plate against said fractured bone; removing selected tacks from said fractured bone and said fixation plate; adjusting the position of said fixation plate and said fractured bone with respect to each other; and inserting tacks into said fractured bone through at least some of said second apertures.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 14, wherein the tacks inserted into the bone following said adjusting step are inserted into the bone through different second apertures than from which tacks were removed.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 13, wherein the bone is fractured into at least two bone segments and the step of attaching the plate to the bone includes inserting tacks through second apertures into bone segments on both sides of the fracture.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
83 words
The method of claim 16, wherein after said attaching step the method further comprises the steps of: inspecting the position of said fixation plate against said fractured bone; removing selected tacks from at least one segment of said fractured bone and said fixation plate; adjusting the position of said fixation plate and said one segment of said fractured bone with respect to each other; and inserting tacks into said one segment of said fractured bone through at least one of the second apertures.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 16 wherein said fracture is a diaphyseal fracture.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 16 wherein said threaded fasteners comprise heads arranged to bear against said fixation plate to fasten said fixation plate to the bone, and said tacks comprise portions arranged to bear against said fixation plate to temporarily attach the plate to the bone.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 13, wherein the tacks inserted into the respective bone segment after said adjusting step are inserted into the bone segment through different second apertures than from which tacks were removed.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
244 words
A method of reducing a comminuted bone fracture including a plurality of fractured bone segments, comprising the steps of: (a) positioning at least one fixation plate against a first bone segment, said fixation plate having a plurality of first apertures adapted to receive threaded fasteners for fastening said fixation plate to said first bone segment, said fixation plate further having a plurality of second apertures adapted to receive tacks for temporarily attaching said fixation plate to said first segment; (b) attaching said fixation plate to said first bone segment by inserting tacks through at least one of said second apertures and into said bone segment; (c) positioning a subsequent bone segment to said first bone segment so as to substantially reduce said segments; (d) attaching said fixation plate to said subsequent bone segment by inserting tacks through at least one of said second apertures and into said subsequent bone segment; (e) repeating said steps (c) and (d) by positioning a subsequent bone segment to a previous bone segment attached to a fixation plate, and attaching said fixation plate to said subsequent bone segment by inserting at least one tack through at least one of said second apertures and into said subsequent bone segment, until all of said bone segments have been reduced; (f) fastening said fixation plate to said reduced bone segments by inserting threaded fasteners through said first apertures and into at least some of said bone segments; and (g) removing said tacks.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
244 words
A method of reducing a comminuted bone fracture including a plurality of fractured bone segments, comprising the steps of: (a) positioning at least one fixation plate against a first bone segment, said fixation plate having a plurality of first apertures adapted to receive threaded fasteners for fastening said fixation plate to said first bone segment, said fixation plate further having a plurality of second apertures adapted to receive tacks for temporarily attaching said fixation plate to said first segment; (b) attaching said fixation plate to said first bone segment by inserting tacks through at least one of said second apertures and into said bone segment; (c) positioning a subsequent bone segment to said first bone segment so as to substantially reduce said segments; (d) attaching said fixation plate to said subsequent bone segment by inserting tacks through at least one of said second apertures and into said subsequent bone segment; (e) repeating said steps (c) and (d) by positioning a subsequent bone segment to a previous bone segment attached to a fixation plate, and attaching said fixation plate to said subsequent bone segment by inserting at least one tack through at least one of said second apertures and into said subsequent bone segment, until all of said bone segments have been reduced; (f) fastening said fixation plate to said reduced bone segments by inserting threaded fasteners through said first apertures and into at least some of said bone segments; and (g) removing said tacks.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
67 words
The method of claim 21, wherein after said step (e), the method further comprises the step of: inspecting the position of said bone segments to confirm substantially satisfactory reduction; removing selected tacks from said fixation plate and bone segments appearing to have not been satisfactorily reduced; adjusting the position of bone segments; and inserting tacks into said bone segments through at least some of said second apertures.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
140 words
An elongated substantially rigid fixation plate system for fixing the position of a fractured bone, said fixation plate system comprising: a plurality of first apertures located along the length of said fixation plate, said first apertures receiving a threaded fastener for fastening the plate to the bone, wherein said threaded fastener has a shaft of a first diameter; and a plurality of second apertures having smaller diameter than said first apertures located along the length of said fixation plate, such that said second apertures removably receive a tack to temporarily and firmly attach said fixation plate to the bone, wherein said tack has an insertion portion of a second diameter smaller than said first diameter of said threaded fastener, and wherein a plurality of said second apertures are disposed in an array centered along the length of said fixation plate.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
140 words
An elongated substantially rigid fixation plate system for fixing the position of a fractured bone, said fixation plate system comprising: a plurality of first apertures located along the length of said fixation plate, said first apertures receiving a threaded fastener for fastening the plate to the bone, wherein said threaded fastener has a shaft of a first diameter; and a plurality of second apertures having smaller diameter than said first apertures located along the length of said fixation plate, such that said second apertures removably receive a tack to temporarily and firmly attach said fixation plate to the bone, wherein said tack has an insertion portion of a second diameter smaller than said first diameter of said threaded fastener, and wherein a plurality of said second apertures are disposed in an array centered along the length of said fixation plate.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
155 words
An elongated substantially rigid fixation plate system for fixing the position of a fractured bore, said fixation plate system comprising: a plurality of first apertures located along the length of said fixation plate, said first apertures receiving a threaded fastener for fastening the plate to the bone, wherein said threaded fastener has a shaft of a first diameter; and a plurality of second apertures smaller than said first aperture located along the length of said fixation plate, such that said second apertures removably receive a tack to temporarily and firmly attach said fixation plate to the bone, wherein said tack has an insertion portion of a second diameter smaller than said first diameter of said threaded fastener, and wherein said second apertures are disposed in a staggered army along the edges of said plate such that a plurality of said second apertures exist along an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said fixation plate.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
155 words
An elongated substantially rigid fixation plate system for fixing the position of a fractured bore, said fixation plate system comprising: a plurality of first apertures located along the length of said fixation plate, said first apertures receiving a threaded fastener for fastening the plate to the bone, wherein said threaded fastener has a shaft of a first diameter; and a plurality of second apertures smaller than said first aperture located along the length of said fixation plate, such that said second apertures removably receive a tack to temporarily and firmly attach said fixation plate to the bone, wherein said tack has an insertion portion of a second diameter smaller than said first diameter of said threaded fastener, and wherein said second apertures are disposed in a staggered army along the edges of said plate such that a plurality of said second apertures exist along an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said fixation plate.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-10-13 | 2001-04-14 | 2001-10-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-10-13 | 2005-04-14 | 2005-10-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-10-13 | 2009-04-14 | 2009-10-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |