Self-contouring plate for bone fractures
The self-contouring plate for bone fractures allows a surgeon to bridge a bone fracture, primarily in bones of complex shape where the use of plates or screws is difficult. The self-contouring plate is formed from a series of similar or identical rigid elements, the elements able to bend and rotate with respect to each other. This flexibility is initially helpful as the surgeon contours the device to the shape of the bone. When the desired shape is reached, the elements are locked into place. The length of device is adjusted by adding or removing elements, much like a necklace. Each element of the self-contouring plate includes a ball that extends away from a body, a cavity for receiving the ball of the neighboring plate, and a screw to compress the ball within the cavity.
1 . A device for implantation within a body, the device fully beneath a layer of skin, the device to bridge a bone fracture, the device comprising:
a first element and a second element linked by a ball-and-socket joint;
the ball-and-socket joint having an unlocked position and a locked position;
the ball-and-socket joint sharing a centerline with the first element and the second element, thus permitting a low-profile implantation against the bone fracture;
the ball-and-socket joint separated, with a ball on the first element and a socket within the second element;
the first element and the second element each including a hole for a bone screw;
whereby the ball-and-socket joint is initially movable for to allow the device to contour to a shape of the bone fracture, the device then stiffened by compression of the ball within the ball-and-socket joint.
2 . The device for implantation within the body of claim 1 , wherein the ball is spherical and solid, thus permitting 360-degree rotation of the first element with respect to the second element along the centerline.
3 . The device for implantation within the body of claim 1 , further comprising:
a compression screw;
the compression screw interfacing with the socket;
the compression screw including a first position corresponding with the unlocked position of the ball-and-socket joint, and a second position corresponding with the locked position of the ball-and-socket joint;
the compression screw causing the locked position of the ball-and-socket joint by pressing against an exterior surface of the ball, and not passing through the ball;
whereby the compression screw is actuated after placement of the device across the bone fracture, locking the device into a desired shape.
4 . The device for implantation within the body of claim 3 , wherein:
the socket includes threaded walls;
the compression screw includes external threads;
the compression screw interfaces with the external threads of the socket, thereby allowing a surgeon to compress the ball into the socket without passing a fastener through the ball.
5 . The device for implantation within the body of claim 1 , wherein:
the hole for the bone screw includes a chamfered upper perimeter, thus allowing the bone screw to be set flush with an upper surface of the first element.
6 . The device for implantation within the body of claim 1 , wherein:
the first element can roll 360 degrees along the centerline with respect to the second element;
the first element can swivel side-to-side at least 45 degrees with respect to the second element;
the first element can tilt up-and-down at least 45 degrees with respect to the second element.
7 . The device for implantation within the body of claim 3 , wherein:
the first element can roll 360 degrees along the centerline with respect to the second element;
the first element can swivel side-to-side at least 45 degrees with respect to the second element;
the first element can tilt up-and-down at least 45 degrees with respect to the second element.
8 . A device to bridge a bone fracture of a curved bone, the device comprising:
a plurality of rigid elements;
each element of the plurality of rigid elements including:
a body;
the body including a hole for a bone screw;
a socket within a first end of the body;
a ball-shaped head at a second end of the body;
the ball-shaped head sharing a centerline with the body;
the ball-shaped head able to be movably interfaced with the socket of an adjacent rigid element of the plurality of rigid elements;
the ball-shaped head having an unlocked condition with respect to the socket, and the ball-shaped head having a locked condition with respect to the socket;
a neck;
the neck joining the body to the ball-shaped head;
the plurality of rigid elements joined by ball-shaped heads, allowing each element of the plurality of rigid elements to have six degrees of rotational freedom with respect to each other.
9 . The device to bridge a bone fracture of a curved bone of claim 8 , wherein the ball-shaped head is spherical and solid, thus permitting 360-degree rotation of the plurality of rigid elements with respect to each other.
10 . The device to bridge a bone fracture of a curved bone of claim 8 , further comprising:
a compression screw;
the compression screw interfacing with the socket;
the compression screw including a first position corresponding with the unlocked condition of the ball-shaped head within the socket, and a second position corresponding with the locked condition of the ball-shaped head within the socket;
the compression screw causing the locked condition of the ball-shaped head within the socket by pressing against an exterior surface of the ball-shaped head, and not passing through the ball-shaped head;
whereby the compression screw is actuated after placement of the device across the bone fracture, locking the device into a desired shape.
11 . The device to bridge a bone fracture of a curved bone of claim 10 , wherein:
the socket includes threaded walls;
the compression screw includes external threads;
the compression screw interfaces with the external threads of the socket, thereby allowing a surgeon to compress the ball-shaped head into the socket without passing a fastener through the ball-shaped head.
12 . The device to bridge a bone fracture of a curved bone of claim 8 , wherein:
the hole for the bone screw includes a chamfered upper perimeter, thus allowing the bone screw to be set flush with an upper surface of the body.
13 . The device to bridge a bone fracture of a curved bone of claim 8 , wherein:
each element of the plurality of rigid elements can roll 360 degrees along the centerline with respect to an adjacent element of the plurality of rigid elements;
each element of the plurality of rigid elements can swivel side-to-side at least 45 degrees with respect to an adjacent element of the plurality of rigid elements;
each element of the plurality of rigid elements can tilt up-and-down at least 45 degrees along the centerline with respect to an adjacent element of the plurality of rigid elements.
14 . The device to bridge a bone fracture of a curved bone of claim 11 , wherein:
each element of the plurality of rigid elements can roll 360 degrees along the centerline with respect to an adjacent element of the plurality of rigid elements;
each element of the plurality of rigid elements can swivel side-to-side at least 45 degrees with respect to an adjacent element of the plurality of rigid elements;
each element of the plurality of rigid elements can tilt up-and-down at least 45 degrees along the centerline with respect to an adjacent element of the plurality of rigid elements.
15 . A device for stabilizing a fracture of a bone, the bone having a complex shape, the device comprising:
a first rigid element and a second rigid element joined by a flexible connection;
the first rigid element and the second rigid element each including a hole for a bone screw to be installed;
the flexible connection being a ball-and-socket joint;
the ball-and-socket joint including a ball and a socket;
the socket within the first rigid element;
the ball extending from the second rigid element;
the ball and the second rigid element having a common centerline;
the flexible connection having a first position that allows movement of the ball with respect to the socket, and a second position that locks the ball with respect to the socket;
a compression screw locking the ball with respect to the socket when in the second position;
the compression screw resting against an outside of the ball, and not passing through the ball;
the compression screw including cup-shaped recess that matches an outer surface of the ball;
whereby the device allows for stabilization of the fracture despite the complex shape of the bone.
16 . The device for stabilizing a fracture of a bone of claim 15 , wherein:
the compression screw causing a locked position of the ball-and-socket joint by pressing against an exterior surface of the ball, and not passing through the ball;
whereby the compression screw is actuated after placement of the device across the fracture, locking the device into a desired shape.
17 . The device for stabilizing a fracture of a bone of claim 16 , wherein:
the socket includes threaded walls;
the compression screw includes external threads;
the compression screw interfaces with the external threads of the socket, thereby allowing a surgeon to compress the ball into the socket without passing a fastener through the ball.
18 . The device for stabilizing a fracture of a bone of claim 15 , wherein:
the hole for the bone screw includes a chamfered upper perimeter, thus allowing the bone screw to be set flush with an upper surface of the first rigid element.
19 . The device for stabilizing a fracture of a bone of claim 15 , wherein:
the first rigid element can roll 360 degrees along the common centerline with respect to the second rigid element;
the first rigid element can swivel side-to-side at least 45 degrees with respect to the second rigid element;
the first rigid element can tilt up-and-down at least 45 degrees with respect to the second rigid element.
20 . The device for stabilizing a fracture of a bone of claim 16 , wherein:
the first rigid element can roll 360 degrees along the common centerline with respect to the second rigid element;
the first rigid element can swivel side-to-side at least 45 degrees with respect to the second rigid element;
the first rigid element can tilt up-and-down at least 45 degrees with respect to the second rigid element.