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 . A supra implant system for joining boney structures comprising:
a first non-threaded anchor having a first center axis including,
a first non-threaded elongated body;
a first non-threaded head coupled to a proximal end of the elongated body, the first head including,
a concentric portion of the first head that is substantially concentric to the center axis, and
an offset portion of the first head that is offset from the center axis;
a second non-threaded anchor having a second center axis including,
a second non-threaded elongated body;
a second non-threaded head coupled to a proximal end of the elongated body, the second head including,
a concentric portion of the second head that is substantially concentric to the center axis, and
an offset portion of the second head that is offset from the center axis;
a supra implant including,
a first end portion including a first aperture defined therein, the first aperture having a first rigid engagement feature, the first aperture sized and shaped to fully accept the first head only when the first rigid engagement feature engages the offset portion of the first head to force a first transverse movement of the first head;
a second end portion including a second aperture defined therein, the second aperture having a second rigid engagement feature, the second aperture sized and shaped to fully accept the second head only when the second rigid engagement feature engages the offset portion of the second head to force a second transverse movement of the second, wherein the second transverse movement is in an opposite direction relative to the first transverse movement; and
a main body portion joining the first end portion to the second end portion.
2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first engagement feature is a first force applying surface sized and shaped to assert first transverse force on the offset portion of the first head as the offset portion of the first head slidingly engages the first force applying surface.
3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first aperture incudes a first opposing sloped surface opposing the first rigid engagement feature and the second aperture includes a second opposing sloped surface opposing the second rigid engagement feature.
4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first aperture is longitudinally aligned with the second aperture.
5 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a third non-threaded anchor having a third center axis including,
a third non-threaded elongated body;
a third non-threaded head coupled to a proximal end of the elongated body, the third head including,
a concentric portion of the third head that is substantially concentric to the center axis,
an offset portion of the third head that is offset from the center axis; and
a third aperture defined therein, the third aperture having a third rigid engagement feature, the third aperture shaped to fully accept the third head only when the third rigid engagement feature engages the offset portion of the third head to force a third transverse movement of the third head.
6 . The system of claim 5 , further comprising:
a fourth non-threaded anchor having a fourth center axis including,
a fourth non-threaded elongated body;
a fourth non-threaded head coupled to a proximal end of the elongated body, the fourth head including,
a concentric portion of the fourth head that is substantially concentric to the center axis,
an offset portion of the fourth head that is offset from the center axis; and
a fourth aperture defined therein, the fourth aperture having a fourth rigid engagement feature, the fourth aperture shaped to fully accept the fourth head only when the fourth rigid engagement feature engages the offset portion of the fourth head to force a fourth transverse movement of the fourth head.
7 . 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 a first trajectory.
8 . The system of claim 1 , 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 a second trajectory.
9 . 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.