Apparatus for correcting long bone deformation

Claim 2

Instrument for correcting deformation of small long bones in the human body comprising at least one bone holding device (21) including: a rigid elongate body (1) having two rectilinear and entirely straight main segments (2, 3) joined together, the two main segments being joined together by an angled joining area at a first angle which can be varied so that it is substantially equal to a required angular correction to be applied to the bone, first anchor means (5) formed in one-piece with the first main segment (2) of the body (1) adapted to be fixed transversely into a bone, the first anchor means (5) including at least one pin (6, 7) extending in a direction substantially at a second angle (B) relative to the longitudinal axis of the first main segment (2) of the body (1), second anchor means (9) on the second main segment (3) of the body (1) adapted to be fixed transversely in the bone at a subsequent stage, after fixing of the first anchor means (5), wherein: said first main segment (2) is directly connected to said first anchor means (5). and said second main segment (3) is directly connected to said second anchor means (9), and wherein said first and second main segments are directly connected to each other, said body (1) is made from a material and has a shape adapted to withstand without breaking and to retain permanent angular deformation in the angled joining area (4), the angled joining area has a thickness (E) substantially smaller than its width (L1), so that the equipment is adapted to be bent by means of a bending device to obtain the required correction and after an opening osteotomy (23) or a closing osteotomy (27) between two adjacent portions of small long bones at said first angle substantially equal to the required correction, the first anchor means (5) of the device can be anchored in the bone in a direction at said second angle (B) to the longitudinal axis of the bone, with the angled joining area (4) in line with the osteotomy (23, 27), and the device (21) determines a required angular offset between the two adjacent bone portions, subsequent anchoring of the second anchor means (9) fixing the angular offset.

Claim 3

Instrument according to claim 1 wherein: the second anchor means (9) include at least one hole (10) adapted to fit a bone screw, the anchor means (5, 9) are adapted to penetrate the bone and project from a face (8) of the body (1) which face is opposite said first anchor means.

Claim 4

Instrument according to claim 2 wherein the body (1) includes near the hole (10) adapted to fit a bone screw a secondary hole (12) for a removable pin (25) for temporary fixing or strengthened fixing of the device (21) to the bone.

Claim 5

Instrument according to claim 1 wherein the angle (A) between the two main segments (2, 3) of the body (1) is equal to approximately 150.

Claim 6

Instrument according to claim 1 wherein the body (1) has a length (L2) between one third and one half the length of the bone which it is to correct.

Claim 7

Instrument according to claim 1 including it includes a drilling guide for boring penetration holes for the first anchor means (5) in a direction at a particular angle (B) to the longitudinal axis of the bone and a bending device adapted to shape the body (1) of the first bone holding device (21) to the required angle (A).

Claim 8

Instrument according to claim I including a complementary device having a rigid elongate body (100), the body having a convex side, the body comprising a rectilinear first main segment (2) and a rectilinear second main segment (3) joined together at an angled joining area (4) and wherein: third anchor means (5) include a first pair of pins (13, 14) offset longitudinally on the body (100), fourth anchor means (9) include a second pair of pins (15, 16) offset longitudinally on the body (100), the pins (13-16) are parallel to each other and project from the convex side (17) of the body (100).

Claim 9

Instrument according to claim 7 wherein the pins (13, 14; 15, 16) of the same pair of anchor means are of different lengths, with an end pin (13, 16) longer than the intermediate pin (14, 15).

Claim 10

Instrument according to claim 7 wherein the angle between the two main segments (2, 3) of the body (100) is equal to approximately 100.

Claim 11

Method for correcting deformation of a small long bone in the human body, comprising the steps of: providing a bone holding device including a rigid elongate body with two rectilinear main segments joined together. first anchor means on the first main segment of the body adapted to be fixed transversely into the bone, the first anchor means including at least one pin extending in a direction substantially at a particular angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the first main segment of the body, second anchor means on the second main segment of the body adapted to be fixed transversely in the bone, the two main segments being joined together by an angled joining area at an angle which is substantially equal to the required angular correction to be applied to the bone, said body being made from a material and having a shape adapted to withstand without breaking and to retain permanent angular deformation in the angled joining area, the angled joining area having a thickness substantially smaller than its width: in an intermediate area of said small long bone, using a bone saw. providing an epiphysis-diaphysis osteotomy avoiding the exterior cortical bone tissue and making an angular space in the bone at an angle equal to the required angular correction. using an appropriate drilling guide, boring two parallel tunnels into the spongy proximal part of the epiphysis of said small long bone, at said angle to the longitudinal axis of the bone, the tunnels being positioned so that the angled joining area of the bone holding device is substantially in line with the osteotomy; inserting the pins of the first anchor means into the tunnels bored in the proximal part of said bone; immobilizing temporarily said bone holding device by inserting a diaphysis pin through an appropriate hole: verifying correct alignment of the bone in all planes; and permanently fixing the bone holding device by a bone screw in the bone.

Claim 12

Method for correcting deformation of a small long bone in the human body, comprising the steps of: providing a bone holding device including a rigid elongate body with two rectilinear main segments joined together. first anchor means on the first main segment of the body adapted to be fixed transversely into the bone, the first anchor means including at least one pin extending in a direction substantially at a particular angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the first main segment of the body, second anchor means on the second main segment of the body adapted to be fixed transversely in the bone, the two main segments being joined together by an angled joining area at an angle which is substantially equal to the required angular correction to be applied to the bone, said body being made from a material and having a shape adapted to withstand without breaking and to retain permanent angular deformation in the angled joining area, the angled joining area having a thickness substantially smaller than its width: in an intermediate area of said small long bone, using a bone saw. providing an epiphysis-diaphysis osteotomy avoiding the exterior cortical bone tissue and making an angular space in the bone at an angle equal to the required angular correction. using an appropriate drilling guide, boring two parallel tunnels into the spongy proximal part of the epiphysis of said small long bone, at said angle to the longitudinal axis of the bone, the tunnels being positioned so that the angled joining area of the bone holding device is substantially in line with the osteotomy; inserting the pins of the first anchor means into the tunnels bored in the proximal part of said bone; immobilizing temporarily said bone holding device by inserting a diaphysis pin through an appropriate hole: verifying correct alignment of the bone in all planes; and permanently fixing the bone holding device by a bone screw in the bone.

Claim 13

The method of claim 10 further comprising the preliminary steps of: measuring the required angular correction on the bone; bending the bone holding device using a bending device at an angle substantially equal to the required correction.

Claim 14

Instrument for correcting deformation of small long bones in the human body comprising at least one bone holding device (21) including: a rigid elongate body (1) having two rectilinear main segments (2, 3) joined together, the two main segments being joined together by an angled joining area at a first angle which can be varied so that it is substantially equal to a required angular correction to be applied to the bone, first anchor means (5) on the first main segment (2) of the body (1) adapted to be fixed transversely into a bone, the first anchor means (5) including at least one pin (6, 7) extending in a direction substantially at a second angle (B) relative to the longitudinal axis of the first main segment (2) of the body (1), second anchor means (9) on the second main segment (3) of the body (1) adapted to be fixed transversely in the bone at a subsequent stage, after fixing of the first anchor means (5), wherein: said body (1) is made from a material and has a shape adapted to withstand without breaking and to retain permanent angular deformation in the angled joining area (4), the angled joining area has a thickness (E) substantially smaller than its width (L1), so that the equipment is adapted to be bent by means of a bending device to obtain the required correction and after an opening osteotomy (23) or a closing osteotomy (27) between two adjacent portions of small long bones at said first angle substantially equal to the required correction, the first anchor means (5) of the device can be anchored in the bone in a direction at said second angle (B) to the longitudinal axis of the bone, with the angled joining area (4) in line with the osteotomy (23, 27), and the device (21) determines a required angular offset between the two adjacent bone portions, subsequent anchoring of the second anchor means (9) fixing the angular offset, wherein the instrument includes a drilling guide for boring penetration holes for the first anchor means (5) in a direction at said second angle (B) to the longitudinal axis of the bone and a bending device adapted to shape the body (1) of the first bone holding device (21) to the required angle (A).

Claim 15

Instrument for correcting deformation of small long bones in the human body comprising at least one bone holding device (21) including: a rigid elongate body (1) having two rectilinear main segments (2, 3) joined together, the two main segments being joined together by an angled joining area at a first angle which can be varied so that it is substantially equal to a required angular correction to be applied to the bone, first anchor means (5) on the first main segment (2) of the body (1) adapted to be fixed transversely into a bone, the first anchor means (5) including at least one pin (6, 7) extending in a direction substantially at a second angle (B) relative to the longitudinal axis of the first main segment (2) of the body (1), second anchor means (9) on the second main segment (3) of the body (1) adapted to be fixed transversely in the bone at a subsequent stage, after fixing of the first anchor means (5), wherein: said body (1) is made from a material and has a shape adapted to withstand without breaking and to retain permanent angular deformation in the angled joining area (4), the angled joining area has a thickness (E) substantially smaller than its width (L1), so that the equipment is adapted to be bent by means of a bending device to obtain the required correction and after an opening osteotomy (23) or a closing osteotomy (27) between two adjacent portions of small long bones at said first angle substantially equal to the required correction, the first anchor means (5) of the device can be anchored in the bone in a direction at said second angle (B) to the longitudinal axis of the bone, with the angled joining area (4) in line with the osteotomy (23, 27), and the device (21) determines a required angular offset between the two adjacent bone portions, subsequent anchoring of the second anchor means (9) fixing the angular offset, wherein the instrument includes a drilling guide for boring penetration holes for the first anchor means (5) in a direction at said second angle (B) to the longitudinal axis of the bone and a bending device adapted to shape the body (1) of the first bone holding device (21) to the required angle (A).

Claim 16

An instrument for correcting deformation of small long bones in the human body, the instrument comprising: a rigid elongated body having first and second entirely straight main segments, the first and second main segments being directly connected, respectively, to first and second anchor means, the anchor means comprising means for attaching the body to a bone, the first main segment and the first anchor means being formed in one-piece, the first and second main segments also being directly connected to each other at an angle, wherein said angle of connection is controllably variable.

Claim 17

An instrument for correcting deformation of small long bones in the human body, the instrument comprising: a rigid elongated body having first and second entirely straight main segments, the first and second main segments being directly connected, respectively, to first and second anchor means, the anchor means comprising means for attaching the body to a bone, the first main segment and the first anchor means being formed in one-piece, the first and second main segments also being directly connected to each other at an angle, wherein said angle of connection is controllably variable.

Claim 18

The instrument of claim 13, wherein the first anchor means is integrally formed with the body, and wherein the second anchor means is distinct from the body.