Internal beam plates and associated instrumentation for performing surgical methods
Internal beam plates and associated instrumentation may be utilized for performing arthrodesis procedures, bone fracture procedures, osteotomy procedures, etc. Exemplary surgical methods that may be performed using the internal beam plates and associated instrumentation include, but are not limited to, lapidus bunionectomy procedures, metatarsophalangeal (MTP) procedures, chevron procedures, fracture repair procedures, etc. The exemplary internal beam plates incorporate an integral beam that is configured to increase strength and stiffness across a fusion site. The exemplary cutting/prep guides are configured to allow surgeons to reduce, prepare, and cut bones for receiving the beam of the internal beam plate using one or more guides.
1 . An internal beam plate, comprising:
a plate body extending along a longitudinal centerline axis between a first portion and a second portion and including a bone contacting surface, an outer surface opposed to the bone contacting surface, and a peripheral side wall connecting between the bone contacting surface and the outer surface, wherein the first portion of the plate body protrudes outwardly at a first curved peak and a second curved peak, and the second portion of the plate body includes a single curved peak; and
a beam that protrudes outwardly from the bone contacting surface,
wherein the beam is non-tapered across a majority of a distance the beam protrudes from the bone contacting surface,
wherein the beam is the sole beam protruding from the bone contacting surface of the plate body of the internal beam plate,
wherein the beam includes a first length and the beam extends parallel to the longitudinal centerline axis of the plate body between a first lengthwise end and a second lengthwise end of the beam,
wherein the beam includes a width that is a distance the beam protrudes away from the bone contacting surface of the plate body,
wherein the beam includes a thickness measured between a first side of the beam and second side of the beam, wherein the first side and the second side of the beam are nearer to the longitudinal centerline axis of the plate body than to the peripheral side wall of the plate body,
wherein the first length of the beam is larger than the thickness of the beam.
2 . The internal beam plate as recited in claim 1 , wherein the bone contacting surface includes a curvature for conforming to a contour of a bone.
3 . The internal beam plate as recited in claim 1 , wherein the plate body and the beam are integrated to establish a single-piece structure that excludes mechanical attachments for connecting the plate body and the beam together.
4 . The internal beam plate as recited in claim 1 , wherein the beam protrudes away from the bone contacting surface along a beam axis that is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal centerline axis, and further wherein the distance the beam protrudes from the bone contacting surface is smaller than the first length of the beam and a second length of the plate body, and further wherein the first length is less than the second length.
5 . The internal beam plate as recited in claim 1 , comprising a first set of openings formed through the first portion of the plate body and a second set of openings formed through the second portion of the plate body, wherein the first length extends across a majority of a distance that spans between the first set of openings and the second set of openings, and further wherein the first set of openings are staggered along the longitudinal centerline axis and the second set of openings are aligned along the longitudinal centerline axis.
6 . The internal beam plate as recited in claim 5 , wherein the first set of openings are disposed outboard of the first lengthwise end of the beam and the second set of openings are disposed outboard of the second lengthwise end of the beam.
7 . The internal beam plate as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first length of the beam is less than a second length of the plate body.
8 . The internal beam plate as recited in claim 7 , wherein the first length is between about 25% and about 75% of the second length.
9 . The internal beam plate as recited in claim 7 , wherein the first length is between about 40% and about 60% of the second length.
10 . The internal beam plate as recited in claim 7 , wherein the distance the beam protrudes from the bone contacting surface is less than the first length of the beam.
11 . The internal beam plate as recited in claim 10 , wherein the distance the beam protrudes from the bone contacting surface is between about 25% and about 50% of the first length.
12 . The internal beam plate as recited in claim 1 , wherein the thickness of the beam is a uniform thickness.
13 . The internal beam plate as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first lengthwise end or the second lengthwise end is angled relative to the longitudinal centerline axis.
14 . The internal beam plate as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first curved peak of the first portion of the plate body is closer to the second portion of the plate body than the second curved peak of the first portion of the plate body.
15 . The internal beam plate as recited in claim 14 , wherein the longitudinal centerline axis intersects through the second curved peak of the first portion of the plate body and through the single curved peak of the second portion of the plate body.
16 . The internal beam plate as recited in claim 15 , wherein the longitudinal centerline axis intersects through a first opening formed through the single curved peak and a second opening of the second portion of the plate body but does not intersect through a third opening formed through the first curved peak or a fourth opening formed through the second curved peak.