Load sharing bone plate
A load sharing bone plate has a plurality of directional apertures configured to effectively support and share the load with a fractured bone to promote healing. A load sharing bone plate may have a body portion that is thinner and be configured to be secured with smaller fasteners than conventional bone plates. A load sharing bone plate has a plurality of directional apertures, configured to direct a fastener is a specific orientation, such as in an oblique angle to the length and/or in an oblique angle to the width of the bone plate. A load sharing bone plate may be configured with a load sharing extension on at least one end that is configured to reduce stress concentration at the end of the bone plate. A load sharing extension may have a tapered thickness and/or width from the body portion to the extended end.
1 . A bone plate system comprising:
a) a bone plate comprising:
i) a top surface;
ii) a bone contact surface;
iii) a thickness between the top surface and bone contact surface;
b) a fastener having a fastener head;
c) a multi-aperture insert configured in said bone plate such that it will not spin upon insertion of a fastener comprising:
i) a first aperture insert portion comprising a first fastener aperture and an extended end;
ii) a second aperture insert portion comprising a first fastener aperture and an extended end; and
iii) a coupling portion that extends between the first aperture insert portion and the second aperture insert portion;
d) wherein the first aperture insert portion and the second aperture insert portion extend at least 75% through the thickness of the load sharing bone plate.
2 . The bone plate system of claim 1 , wherein the fastener head has head threads and wherein the first aperture insert portion is a malleable material configured to allow the head threads to cut into the first aperture insert portion.
3 . The bone plate system of claim 2 , wherein the second aperture insert portion is a malleable material configured to allow the head threads to cut into the second aperture insert portion.
4 . The bone plate system of claim 1 , wherein the coupling portion extends along said top surface of the bone plate.
5 . The bone plate system of claim 1 wherein the multi-aperture insert is a monolithic component.
6 . The bone plate system of claim 1 , wherein the coupling portion extends along said bone contact surface of the bone plate.
7 . The bone plate system of claim 6 , wherein the multi-aperture insert is a monolithic component.
8 . The bone plate system of claim 1 , wherein the bone plate comprises a first aperture and a second aperture, each extend through the bone plate from said top surface to said bone contact surface and wherein the first aperture insert portion extends through said first aperture and wherein said second aperture insert portion extends through said second aperture.
9 . The bone plate system of claim 8 , wherein the first aperture of the bone plate has tapered bone contact opening and wherein the first aperture insert portion has a flared bone contact end.
10 . The bone plate system of claim 9 , wherein the second aperture of the bone plate has tapered bone contact opening and wherein the second aperture insert portion has a flared bone contact end.
11 . The bone plate system of claim 8 , wherein the first aperture of the bone plate has a tapered insertion opening and wherein the first aperture insert portion has a flared insertion end.
12 . The bone plate system of claim 11 , wherein the second aperture of the bone plate has a tapered insertion opening and wherein the second aperture insert portion has a flared insertion end.
13 . The bone plate system of claim 1 , wherein the first aperture insert portion comprises a second fastener aperture.
14 . The bone plate system of claim 13 , wherein the second aperture insert portion comprises a second fastener aperture.
15 . The bone plate system of claim 13 , further comprising a fastener divider extending from a first side to a second side of the first aperture insert portion.
16 . The bone plate system of claim 1 , wherein fastener head is a beveled fastener head and wherein the first fastener aperture of the first aperture insert portion has a beveled top opening that is configured to receive said beveled fastener head.
17 . The bone plate system of claim 1 , wherein bone plate comprises an articular fixation portion and wherein a multi-aperture insert is configured in said articular fixation portion.
18 . The bone plate system of claim 1 , wherein the multi-aperture insert comprises a press-slot extending into a wall of the multi-aperture insert to facilitate press fitting the multi-aperture insert into the bone plate.
19 . The bone plate system of claim 18 , wherein the press-slot extends completely across said wall of the multi-aperture insert and extends down a portion of a height of the multi-aperture insert.
20 . The bone plate system of claim 1 , wherein the multi-aperture insert is a monolithic component made of polyether ether ketone.