Modular bone plate
View Patent ↗Embodiments of present invention include modular bone plate systems and various methods of bone fixation using the same. The system makes available to the practitioner an array of plates, screws and pins with different sizes, curves, and functions to overcome complication of the procedure with minimal rework and soft/hard tissue intervention, treat osteoporotic bones and articular fracture to name a few.
1. A system for perfecting bone contact in bone fixation by compressing the bone parts against each other and moving them a total bone displacement distance, comprising:
a rail comprising a fork with an elongated handle, said handle having a first plurality of holes thereon for fastening to a first part of a fractured bone, said fork comprising two parallel plates connected to said elongated handle, positioned a first distance apart, and
a second plate with a proximal and a distal end, wherein the distal end comprises a second plurality of holes for fastening to a second part of said fractured bone;
wherein said parallel plates of said fork define a first extended region configured to extend outward from a first fractured edge of said first part of said fractured bone, and said second plate defines a proximal extended region configured to extend outward from a second fractured edge of said second part of said fractured bone when the rail and the second plate are affixed to said first and second parts of said fractured bone;
said parallel plates of said fork comprising a first plurality of conically-shaped holes which are identical and aligned relative to one another, such that said holes are spaced a first pitch apart, and
said second plate comprising a second plurality of conically-shaped holes spaced a second pitch apart, wherein the first pitch is different from the second pitch;
wherein the width of said proximal extended region of said second plate is less than said first distance for allowing insertion of the second plate between said two parallel plates of said fork;
wherein said second plate is configured to be slidably positioned between said two parallel plates of said fork such that said first extended region and second extended regions at least partially overlap, allowing said first part and said second part of said fractured bone to be moved toward each other;
wherein said overlapping is performed by creating a desired alignment position, comprising aligning said fork with said second plate such that at least one of said first plurality of conically-shaped holes, that is a first target hole, is offset with at least one of said second plurality of conically-shaped holes, that is a second target hole, and the offset results in an amount that is equal to or a fraction of said total bone displacement distance needed; and
a plurality of conically shaped wedges, wherein a first conically shaped wedge of said plurality of conically shaped wedges is passed through said first target hole and pushed toward insertion into said second target hole such that said offset is eliminated by pushing said second bone part toward said first bone part.
2. The system of claim 1 , comprising after eliminating said first offset, the process is similarly repeated by inserting another conically shaped wedge into another one of conically shaped holes to eliminate a second offset.
3. The system of claim 2 , wherein said first offset and said second offset are between 0.5 mm and 10 mm each.
4. The system of claim 1 , wherein said first offset is between 0.6 mm and 10 mm.
5. The system of claim 1 , wherein said fork is configured to be fastened to a first piece in a first customizable main plate at a location on its elongated handle and the second plate is further configured to be fastened to a second piece in a second customizable main plate at a location on its distal end, wherein said first and second customizable main plates are configured to be fastened to said first and second bone parts, respectively.
6. The system of claim 5 , wherein when fastened, each one of said fork and said second plate creates an angle between 0 and 90 degrees with said first and second pieces in corresponding customizable main plate systems.
7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the elongated handle of said fork and the distal end of said second plate comprise at least three adjustment holes for fixing said angles to stay between 0 and 90 degrees by inserting pins or screws in said adjustment holes.
8. The system of claim 5 , wherein said fork and said second plate form a rail-plate structure and said first and second pieces are connected to the two ends of the rail-plate thereby one connecting to the elongated handle of the fork and the other connecting to the distal end of the second plate, wherein at least one of said first and second pieces include two opposite recesses made in its mid-section.
9. The system of claim 8 , wherein a bone clamp is further used to hold a bone-main plate assembly and arms of said bone clamp are placed at the recesses to thereby hold the bone-main plate assembly.
10. The system of claim 9 , wherein said arms of said bone clamp are curved to allow for extra space for placing said customizable main plate on first and second parts of said fractured bone while being held by said bone clamp.