Systems and methods for the fixation or fusion of bone
Various bone fixation/fusion devices are sized and configured to be placed across fracture fragments or between bones that are to be fused.
1 . A bone fixation/fusion device comprising
a body adapted for placement in association with a fracture line or between different bone segments, at least a portion of the body including a region permitting bony in-growth and/or through-growth, the body including at least one fixation ridge.
2 . A device according to claim 1
wherein the body includes at least two spaced-apart fixation ridges.
3 . A device according to claim 2
wherein the spaced-apart fixation ridges are separated by a distance, and
wherein the distance remains essentially constant from one end of the fixation ridges toward an opposite end of the fixation ridges.
4 . A device according to claim 1
wherein the body includes a plurality of spaced-apart fixation ridges.
5 . A device according to claim 1
wherein the body comprises an elongated stem-like structure.
6 . A device according to claim 1
wherein the body comprises a flattened wafer-like structure.
7 . A bone fixation/fusion device comprising
a body adapted for placement in association with a fracture line or between different bone segments, at least a portion of the body including a region permitting bony in-growth and/or through-growth, the body including at least one guide bore accommodating passage of a guide pin.
8 . A device according to claim 7
wherein the body includes at least two spaced-apart guide bores.
9 . A device according to claim 7
wherein the body includes at least one fixation ridge.
10 . A device according to claim 7
wherein the body comprises an elongated stem-like structure.
11 . A device according to claim 7
wherein the body comprises a flattened wafer-like structure.
12 . A method comprising
selecting a bone site comprising a first bone segment, a second bone segment, and a non-bony region comprising an interruption between the first and second bone segments,
providing a body including a region permitting bony in-growth and/or through-growth, the body including at least one fixation ridge, and
inserting the body into the first bone segment, through the interruption, and into the second bone segment.
13 . A method according to claim 12
wherein the body includes at least two spaced-apart fixation ridges.
14 . A method according to claim 13
wherein the spaced-apart fixation ridges are separated by a distance, and
wherein the distance remains essentially constant from one end of the fixation ridges toward an opposite end of the fixation ridges.
15 . A method according to claim 12
wherein the body includes a plurality of spaced-apart fixation ridges.
16 . A method according to claim 12
wherein the body comprises an elongated stem-like structure.
17 . A method according to claim 12
wherein the body comprises a flattened wafer-like structure.
18 . A method comprising
selecting a bone site comprising a first bone segment, a second bone segment, and a non-bony region comprising an interruption between the first and second bone segments,
providing a body including a region permitting bony in-growth and/or through-growth and at least one guide bore accommodating passage of a guide pin,
establishing with a guide pin a desired insertion path into the first bone segment, through the interruption, and into the second bone segment, and
passing the guide bore over the guide pin to insert the body along the desired insertion path into the first bone segment, through the interruption, and into the second bone segment.
19 . A method according to claim 18
wherein the body includes at least one fixation ridge.
20 . A method according to claim 18
wherein the body comprises an elongated stem-like structure.
21 . A method according to claim 18
wherein the body comprises a flattened wafer-like structure.
22 . A bone fixation assembly comprising
a body traversing a first bone segment and a second bone segment through a non-bony region comprising an interruption between the first and second bone segments, the body including a region permitting bony in-growth and/or through-growth and including at least one fixation ridge.
23 . An assembly according to claim 22
wherein the body comprises an elongated stem-like structure.
24 . An assembly according to claim 22
wherein the body comprises a flattened wafer-like structure.
25 . A bone fixation assembly comprising
a body traversing a first bone segment and a second bone segment through a non-bony region comprising an interruption between the first and second bone segments, the body including a region permitting bony in-growth and/or through-growth and at least one guide bore accommodating passage of a guide pin along which the body is positioned.