ES2646766B1 - Fractured bone junction plate - Google Patents

Abstract

Plate for the union of fractured bones. # Plate (1) for the union of fractured bones, which has a first major surface configured to come into contact with at least part of the fractured bones, and a second major surface opposite the first; wherein said plate (1) comprises an internal recess (5) and a plurality of holes (4) configured to allow the passage of screws therethrough, and where said screws are screwed to the fractured bones; likewise, the plate (1) comprises an oblong hole (2) through progressive self-compression, where the connecting edge between the oblong hole (2) and the second major surface has, on at least one of the sides of the contour of said edge , a concave rounding (3), guaranteeing a uniform compression of the screw with respect to the plate and associated fractured bone.

Description

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DESCRIPTION

Plate for joining fractured bones OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to plates for the union of fractured bones used in the reconstruction of different bone fractures suffered by a patient. And more specifically, the invention relates to a plate configured to mechanically join part of the bones involved in a bone fracture suffered by a patient, such as for example fractures located in limbs such as hands and feet.

The invention also relates to the screw-type fasteners associated with said plate and which together serve to guarantee the physical and solidarity connection between the fractured bones.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Currently, bone fractures can be classified into three types: The simple fracture implies a single fracture line that crosses a bone, the multiple fracture is one in which the bone is fractured into two or more fragments, and the fracture Open is one in which the fractured bone breaks nearby tissues and crosses the skin.

Regarding how to proceed to treat the different bone fractures, the following options are highlighted:

- Splinted immobilization. The limb presenting the bone fracture is immobilized so that the lesion heals internally.

- Open reduction and internal fixation: In this case a surgical operation is required to repair the fracture; In this sense, it is highlighted how frequently metal rods, screws or plates are used to repair the bone, which are fixed, under the skin, after surgery. This procedure is recommended in cases of complicated fractures that cannot be realigned (reduced) with a splint, or when prolonged use of a splint is not recommended.

- Open reduction and external fixation. In the latter case, a surgical operation is required to repair the fracture and the placement of an external fixation device.

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of the fractured limb. This device is an external frame that holds the bone and keeps it in the correct position while consolidating. Typically, this technique is applied to complex fractures that cannot be repaired through open reduction and internal fixation.

With regard to the second type of treatment: Open reduction and internal fixation, the use of fixing plates and screws has been described, which are responsible for joining two or more bones thanks to the fixing screws and the plates that cover, at least partially, two or more fractured bones. In this sense, multiple plate designs designed to be used as internal bone fixation are known in the state of the art, where said plates have varied geometries depending on the type of location where they are to be fixed, and thanks to each Plate has multiple through holes, the screws pass through it and are screwed directly onto the bone, ensuring a structural bond between the fractured bones.

But to ensure that the internal surface of the plate, in contact with the bone, is as large as possible; the use of progressive self-compressing holes is known, which have an angular chamfer on one of the sides allowing a screw to be prepositioned in said hole, and once it is screwed, it is sliding along the chamfer compressing the handle against the bone, and therefore improving and increasing the contact surface between the plate and the fractured bone.

The existing products in the market also have the problem that they do not allow the vision of the evolution of the osteo-integration of the fracture / osteotomy, since said plates are of flat configuration and prevent seeing through said evolution.

Another added problem of said construction of such plates, results from the rigidity of the same that makes it difficult to adapt to each patient and type of fractures.

However, in the current state of the art there is no known plate type device specially designed to ensure that at all times the screw associated with the progressive self-compression hole is in the optimum working position, that is, in the area outside the chamfer angular, and that also allows deforming the ends of the plate to cover and hold the largest possible surface of the fractured bones of the patient.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to make a plate for bone attachment

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fractured foot or hand that solves these problems indicated by the state of the art plates.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention solves the previously mentioned deficiencies of the state of the art, providing a plate for the union of fractured bones that allows to ensure maximum surface contact between the internal major surface of the plate and the fractured bones involved in the corresponding lesion.

For this, the invention relates to a plate for the union of fractured bones, which has a first major surface configured to come into contact with at least part of the fractured bones, and a second major surface opposite the first; wherein said plate comprises a plurality of holes configured to allow the passage of screws therethrough, and where said screws are screwed to the fractured bones, as is known in the current state of the art; but where in a novel way, it is described how the plate comprises an oblong through hole of progressive self-compression, where the joint edge between the oblong hole and the second major surface has, on at least one of the sides of the contour of said edge, a concave rounding.

In this way, the oblong hole of progressive self-compression does not have an angular chamfer as such, but in this particular case it has a concave rounding, which guarantees a more progressive and gradual self-compression that allows the screw to slide and press the plate against the head of the screw, and where thanks to the geometric configuration of the concave rounding it is guaranteed that the body of the screw is housed in the desired location of the screw, and thus the placement of the plate is such that the contact surface between the bone and the plate is the maximum possible.

In this regard, and for the screw head to slide while screwing, the preferred option is described in which the concave rounding, belonging to at least one of the sides of said oblong hole, has a variable depth, being minimum at the ends where rounding is practiced, and maximum in the central area where rounding is practiced. Thus, in the first instance the screw is positioned in the area of the oblong hole that does not present the concave rounding, and as it proceeds to its tightening and screwing, the screw slides towards the deepest area of the concave rounding, until it is completely locked in bone

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fractured, guaranteeing an optimal distribution of pressures along the entire surface of the plate and bone involved.

Similarly, the possibility is contemplated that each orifice belonging to the plurality of orifices presents, at the joint edge between each orifice and the second major surface, a concave rounding. In a way that allows the screw heads to be placed in the most favorable part for screwing without causing unwanted lifting of the blade, being redirected by the said concave roundings.

As for the overall geometric configuration of the plate object of the invention, it is described how it presents a geometry defined by a central core and a plurality of branches, where said, at least one, oblong hole is located in said central core. Likewise, the central core has at least one internal emptying configured to adapt to the articular contour of the fractured bones, in addition to the fact that thanks to the existence of that internal emptying, the total mass of the plate is reduced and, thus, does not imply It implies discomfort or overload to the patient during its adaptation to the use of said plaque.

In relation to how to ensure that each branch is positioned and oriented towards the fractured bones, it is described how each branch has at least one through hole, presenting a lobular geometry with respect to each through hole. Said lobular geometry allows each hole to be deformed with some independence with respect to the rest of the holes or with respect to the central core, since there are no greater thicknesses between the holes that stiffen the assembly, being something novel and of great importance with respect to the rest of plates used in the state of the art today.

Likewise, the option is contemplated in which both the cross section and the longitudinal section have a concave geometry configured to adapt to the contour of said fractured bone.

One of the characteristics of the bone joint plate of the invention is the realization of a large internal window-shaped emptying in the central core of the plate, adapted to the articular line, through which it is possible to control the Osteo-integration evolution of the fracture in osteotomy. This makes it possible to independently fix the fragments of the metatarsal bones with a bridge between them that stiffens the

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fixation. This internal emptying in the form of a window of the plate facilitates the adaptation of the plate to the geometry of each metatarsal and cuboid bone, since instead of deforming a flat plate, the lateral nerves that define the internal emptying in the form of window.

Finally, and as a preferred embodiment, it is described how the plate comprises:

- a central core of quadrangular geometry with an internal recess;

- two parallel branches that have two through holes each respectively; where both branches are born from two corners of the quadrangular geometry of the central core; Y

- a third branch that has a single through hole, and that is born in a third corner of the quadrangular geometry of the central core.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

To complement the description that is being made and in order to help a better understanding of the characteristics of the invention, according to a preferred example of practical implementation thereof, a set of drawings is attached as an integral part of said description. where, for illustrative and non-limiting purposes, the following has been represented:

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the plate for joining fractured bones according to the invention.

Figure 2 shows a detailed view of the oblong hole shown in the plate of Figure 1, observing the concave rounding from an overhead perspective.

Figure 3 shows a section of the oblong hole shown in Figure 2, observing the variable depth of the aforementioned oblong hole.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

Figure 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of a plate (1) for joining fractured bones, which has a first major surface configured to come into contact with at least part of the fractured bones, and a second major surface opposite the first ; where said plate (1) has:

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- a central core of quadrangular geometry with an internal recess (5);

- two parallel branches (1a, 1b) having two through holes (4) each respectively; where both branches (1a, 1b) are born from two of the corners of the quadrangular geometry of the central core; Y

- a third branch (1c) that has a single through hole (4), and that is born in a third corner of the quadrangular geometry of the central core.

Likewise, the plate (1) has, in the central core itself, two oblong holes (2) through progressive self-compression, where the joint edge between each oblong hole (2) and the second major surface has, in at least one of the sides of the contour of said edge, a concave rounding (3). Which can be seen in detail in figures 2

and 3.

Such concave rounding (2) of each oblong hole (2) has a variable depth, being minimal at the ends (3a) where rounding (3) is practiced, and maximum in the central area (3b) where said rounding is practiced ( 3); guaranteeing a progressive compression and maximum contact between the bone and the first major surface of the plate itself (1).

It can be seen in Figure 1, how each hole (4) belonging to the plurality of holes (4) has, in the joint edge between each hole and the second major surface, a concave rounding (4a) that has the mission of improving the distribution of pressures between the area of the plate (1) next to each hole (4) and the fractured bone itself.

In order to guarantee the deformation of the plate (1) towards the fractured bone, it is observed in figure 1 how each branch (1a, 1b, 1c) has several through holes (4), presenting a lobular geometry with respect to each hole (4) through. Being areas that adapt to the patient in a simple and ergonomic way. And in relation to said adaptability, it is described how both the cross section and the longitudinal section of said plate (1) have a concave geometry configured to adapt to the contour of said fractured bone.

As can be seen in Figure 1, the internal emptying (5) is shaped like a window in the plate and is adapted to the articular line, through which it is possible to control the evolution of the osteo-integration of the fracture or osteotomy.

This allows to fix independently the fragments of the metatarsal bones with a

bridge between them that stiffens the fixation.

This internal emptying (5) defines side walls of the plate of smaller section that facilitate its deformability and therefore the adaptation of the plate to the geometry of each metatarsal bone and cuboid.

In view of this description and set of figures, the person skilled in the art will be able to understand that the embodiments of the invention that have been described can be combined in multiple ways within the scope of the invention. The invention has been described according to some preferred embodiments thereof, but it will be apparent to the person skilled in the art that multiple variations can be introduced in said preferred embodiments without exceeding the object of the claimed invention.

Claims (9)

5 10 fifteen twenty 25 30 35 1. - Plate (1) for the union of fractured bones, which has a first major surface configured to come into contact with at least part of the fractured bones, and a second major surface opposite the first; wherein said plate (1) comprises a central core and a plurality of holes (4) configured to allow the passage of screws therethrough, and where said screws are screwed to the fractured bones, the plate (1) being characterized by comprising at least one oblong hole (2) through progressive self-compression, where the connecting edge between the oblong hole (2) and the second major surface has, on at least one of the sides of the contour of said edge, a concave rounding (3 ). 2. - Plate (1) for joining fractured bones, according to claim 1, characterized in that the concave rounding (2), belonging to at least one of the sides of said oblong hole (2), has a variable depth, being minimum at the ends (3a) where rounding (3) is practiced, and maximum in the central area (3b) where said rounding (3) is practiced. 3. - Plate (1) for the union of fractured bones, according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that each hole (4) belonging to the plurality of holes (4) has, at the joint edge between each hole and the second major surface, a concave rounding (4th). 4. - Plate (1) for joining fractured bones, according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the plate (1) has a geometry defined by a central core and a plurality of branches (1a, 1b, 1c), where said, at least one, oblong hole (2) is located in said central core. 5. - Plate (1) for the union of fractured bones, according to claims 1 and 4, characterized in that the central core has at least one internal recess (5) configured to adapt to the articulated contour of the fractured bones, through the which controls the evolution of the osteo fracture integration or osteotomy .. 6. - Plate (1) for joining fractured bones, according to any of claims 2 and 5, characterized in that each branch (1a, 1b, 1c) has at least one through hole (4), presenting a lobular geometry with with respect to each hole (4) through. 7. - Plate (1) for joining fractured bones, according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that both the cross section and the longitudinal section of said plate (1) have a concave geometry configured to adapt to the contour of said bone fractured. 5 8. - Plate (1) for the union of fractured bones according to claim 5, characterized in that the internal emptying (5) of the plate (1) defines lateral walls thereof of smaller section that facilitate its deformability and adaptation of the plate to the geometry of each metatarsal bone and cuboid. 10 9. - Plate (1) for joining fractured bones, according to any of claims 4 to 8, characterized in that the plate (1) comprises: - a central core of quadrangular geometry with an internal recess (5); - two parallel branches (1a, 1b) having two through holes (4) each respectively; where both branches (1a, 1b) is born from two of the corners of the geometry quadrangular of the central nucleus; Y - a third branch (1c) that has a single through hole (4), and that is born in a third corner of the quadrangular geometry of the central core. twenty