GB2521346A

GB2521346A - Osteosynthesis plate

Info

Publication number: GB2521346A
Application number: GB1319510.2A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Neil Walters; Nicholas Gardener
Original assignee: N2 UK Ltd
Current assignee: N2 UK Ltd
Priority date: 2013-11-05
Filing date: 2013-11-05
Publication date: 2015-06-24
Also published as: GB201319510D0

Abstract

An elongated osteosynthesis plate 1 has a series of spaced apertures 6 to receive fixing which may be polyaxial screws (not shown). The apertures may have a threaded form therein (see figure 2 item 6A) and may have the ability to lock the thread. The elongate member comprises a series of circular sections 5 linked by narrowed or waisted bridge sections 7. Further narrowing of the bridge section may be provided by cut outs 8 comprising a series of three scalloped grooves or reduced sections. Reducing the cross section of the plate allows the plate to be bent in one or more axes to allow it to be prebent before fitting or to move during fitting.

Description

I

TITLE: Osteosynthesis Plate The present invention relates to an osteosynthesis plate. The plate may be used for veterinary and human medical applications.

It is known to provide an osteosynthesis plate in order for surgeons to tie bones together which have been broken or fractured. Such known plates require the surgeon to spend considerable time cutting and bending the plate into an anatomical shape before screwinè the plate to the bone/s. Such plates are often manufactured with an array of apertures therein to receive screws.

It has been known to create a chain-like plate with widened sections with apertures to receive screws and thin connecting sections allowing the plate to be bend easily into a shapè, but the thin connecting sections tend to distort or break when the plate is under load.

The invention seeks to provide an improved osteosynthesis plate which is strong and yet easy for surgeons to use and shape. I According to the present invention there is provided an osteosynthesis plate comprising an elongate plate having a series of spaced apertures to receive fixations screws, and reduced thickness sections between the apertures, at least some reduced thickness sections having surface cut-outs to allow the plate the bend.

Preferably the plate has a pair of opposing faces and the surface cut-out/s are provided in at least one face. Preferably the cut-outs are provided on both faces. Preferably the plate is substantially even depth whereby the faces are substantially parallel.

Preferably the cut-outs are provided on all reduced thickness sections.

Preferably the cut-outs are in the form of a three linear cut-outs, one normal to the elongate plate and the other two angled to the elongate plate. The other two may be angled to the plate at 400 to 50°, e. g. 450 Preferably the cut-outs control movement of material during bending to direct any shapes distortion away from the plate area adjacent the apertures.

Preferably the plate is in the form of circular section with apertures connected by waisted bridging sections forming said reduced thickness section.

Preferably the surface of the plate is substantially non-reflective to light and preferably good ultrasound reflection. Preferably the plate has a uniform surface layer of compressive stress to combat stress cracks and corrosion.

Preferably the apertures are threaded. Preferably the apertures have poiy axial threads whereby they can receive screws at variable angles. The threads may be locking threads.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figures 1A and lB show front and side views of a complete plate, and Figure 2 shows a perspective view of a section of the plate of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings there is shown an osteosynthesis plate 1.

As shown in side view Figure lB, plate 1 has a unitary formed body 2 having first and second opposing faces 3,4. Plate thickness between the faces is constant whereby the faces are substantially parallel.

As shown in front view in Figure lA, the plate body 2 is in the form of a sequence of circular section 5 with apertures 6 connected by waisted bridging sections 7 forming plate reduced thickness sections.

Apertures 6 are adapted to receive fixation screws 10 with tapered threaded heads 11.

Apertures have poly axial threads 6A (known in the art) whereby they can receive screws at variable angles, e.g. up to 15° either side of normal as shown. The threads may be locking threads so that in use the plate can be secured to a bone but is spaced from the bone to allow good blood circulation between the plate and the bone.

Cut-outs 8 are provided in both faces 3,4 in the waisted bridging sections 7. As shown in Figure 2, Each cut-out 8 has three cut-out sections 8A,SB,SC. Section 8A is normal to the elongate plate and the other two 8B,8C are substantially at 45° to the elongate plate (the other two plates may be at different angles such as 40° to 50°). Cut-outs 8 allow the plate to bend without distorting the shape of the circular sections 5 with apertures 6. The cut-outs 8 are shaped to control movement of material during bending to direct any shapes distortion away from the plate area adjacent the apertures.

The invention may take form different to that specifically described above. For example the cut-outs could be of a different shape and be of a different number.

Further modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention. ::

Claims

CLAIMS1. An osteosynthesis plate comprising an elongate plate having a series of spaced apertures to receive fixations screws, and reduced thickness sections between the apertures, at least some reduced thickness sections having surface cut-outs to allow the plate the bend.
2. A plate according to claim 1, wherein the plate has a pair of opposing faces and the surface cut-outls are provided in at least one face.
3. A plate according to claim 2, wherein the cut-outs are provided on both faces.r
4. A plate according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the plate is substantially even depth whereby the faces are substantially parallel. * * .
5. A plate according to any preceding claim, wherein the cut-outs are provided on all reduced * ..* * . thickness sections.
6. A plate according toany preceding claim, wherein the cut-outs are in the form of a three linear cut-outs, one normal to the elongate pate and the other twoángled to the elongate plate.
7. A plate according to claim 6, wherein said other two may be angled to the plate at 40° to 500.-. -r ç
8. A plate according to any preceding claim, wherein the cut-outs control movement of material during bending to direct any shapes distortion away from the plate area adjacent the apertures.
9. A plate according to any preceding claim, wherein the plate is in the form of circular section with apertures connected by waisted bridging sections forming said reduced thickness section.
10. A plate according to any preceding claim, wherein the surthce of the plate is substantially non-reflective to light and preferably good ultrasound reflection.
11. A plate according to any preceding claim, wherein the plate has a uniform surface layer of : r compressive stress to combat stress cracks and corrosion.* **.** * *
12. A plate according to any preceding claim, wherein the apertures are threaded.*. : :*
13. A plate according to claim 12, wherein the apertures have poly axial threads whereby they can receive screws at variable angles.
14. A plate according to claim 12 or 13, wherein the threads are locking threads.
15. An osteosynthesis plate substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.