System and method for joining boney structures
Disclosed are system and methods that use at least one non-threaded anchor and an implant with at least one aperture to join boney structures, where the interaction of the head of the anchor with the implant aperture causes the anchor to move transversely with respect to an initial trajectory. This movement causes compression or distraction of the boney structures which are coupled to the anchors.
1 . An implant system for joining boney structures comprising:
a first non-threaded anchor including,
a first non-threaded elongated body having a center axis,
a first non-threaded head coupled to a distal end of the first elongated body, the first head including a first portion of the first head that is substantially concentric to the center axis and a second portion of the first head that is offset from the center axis;
an implant including,
a first bone engaging surface;
a first aperture defined within the implant, the first aperture having:
a first proximal portion and a first distal portion exiting through the first bone engaging surface, and
a first force applying feature sized and shaped to assert a transverse force on the second portion of the first head as the second portion of the first head slidingly engages the first force applying feature;
wherein the first distal portion is sized and to allow passage of the first elongated body along a first trajectory,
wherein the first proximal portion is sized and shaped to accept the first head only upon an occurrence of transverse movement of the first head with respect to the first trajectory wherein the transverse movement is only caused by the interaction of the second portion of the first head with the first force applying feature.
2 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a second non-threaded anchor including,
a second non-threaded elongated body having a center axis,
a second non-threaded head coupled to a distal end of the second elongated body, the second head including a second portion of the second head that is substantially concentric to the center axis and a second portion of the second head that is offset from the center axis;
wherein the implant also includes:
a second bone engaging surface, and
a second aperture defined within the implant, the second aperture having a second proximal portion and a second distal portion exiting through the second bone engaging surface,
the second distal portion sized and to allow passage of the second elongated body along a second trajectory, and
the second proximal portion sized and shaped to accept the second head only upon an occurrence of transverse movement of the second head with respect to the second trajectory.
3 . The system of claim 2 , further comprising:
a third non-threaded anchor including,
a third non-threaded elongated body having a center axis,
a third non-threaded head coupled to a distal end of the third elongated body, the third head including a third portion of the third head that is substantially concentric to the center axis and a third portion of the third head that is offset from the center axis;
wherein the implant also includes,
a third aperture defined within the implant, the third aperture having a third distal portion and a third proximal portion,
the third distal portion sized and to allow passage of the third elongated body along a third trajectory, and
the third proximal portion sized and shaped to accept the third head only upon an occurrence of transverse movement of the third head with respect to the third trajectory.
4 . The system of claim 3 , further comprising:
a fourth non-threaded anchor including,
a fourth non-threaded elongated body having a center axis,
a fourth non-threaded head coupled to a distal end of the fourth elongated body, the fourth head including a fourth portion of the fourth head that is substantially concentric to the center axis and a fourth portion of the fourth head that is offset from the center axis;
wherein the implant also includes,
a fourth aperture defined within the implant, the fourth aperture having a fourth distal portion and a fourth proximal portion,
the fourth distal portion sized and to allow passage of the fourth elongated body along a fourth trajectory, and
the fourth proximal portion sized and shaped to accept the fourth head only upon an occurrence of transverse movement of the fourth head with respect to the fourth trajectory.
5 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the first aperture is curved in a first direction with respect to a center axis of the implant and the second aperture is curved in a second direction with respect to the center axis of the implant.
6 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a first side rail protruding from the first elongated body of the first non-threaded anchor; and
a first side recess defined within the first aperture sized and positioned within the aperture to allow the first side rail to pass therethrough when the first elongated body follows the first trajectory.
7 . The system of claim 6 , further comprising:
a second side rail protruding from the first elongated body of the first non-threaded anchor; and
a second side recess defined within the first aperture sized and positioned within the first aperture to allow the second side rail to pass therethrough when the first elongated body follows the second trajectory.
8 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a first longitudinal step protruding from one side and substantially along a majority of a length of the first elongated body,
a surface defined within the first aperture sized and shaped to slidingly engage the first longitudinal step.