Abstract:
An implantable apparatus ( 10 ) for attaching bone fragments in a bone fracture reduction procedure comprises a bone affixation plate ( 12 ) and a polymeric applicator ( 18 ) having a deflectable portion ( 22 ) that is deflectable to engage a portion ( 16 ) of the plate to attach the applicator to the plate. The applicator ( 18 ) is thereafter deflectable to disengage from the portion ( 16 ) of the plate ( 12 ) to remove the applicator from the plate. The applicator ( 18 ), when attached to the plate ( 12 ), enables the plate to be handled and manipulated during the bone fracture reduction procedure. The applicator ( 18 ) may includes means ( 24 ) for identifying the plate ( 12 ).

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to an implantable bone fracture reduction apparatus that includes a polymeric applicator. The polymeric applicator is removably attached to a bone affixation plate and may include identifying information about the bone affixation plate.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    A known bone fracture reduction device is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,923,471, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. The known bone fracture reduction device includes a metallic plate. A number of openings extend through the plate. Each of the openings is sized for receiving a biocompatible bone screw for affixing a portion of the plate to bone at a bone fracture site.  
           [0003]    The known bone fracture reduction device also includes a metallic identification (ID) tag. The ID tag includes information identifying the plate. Such information may include a lot number, screw sizes for use in the openings of the plate, and a product number. Such identifying information is useful for tracking the plate during a surgical procedure. The ID tag also includes an elongated, metallic stem portion that connects to the plate.  
           [0004]    During a surgical procedure, the ID tag may be used to position the plate in a desired position relative to the bone fracture. After the plate is affixed to bone using the bone screws, the ID tag is removed from the plate by severing the stem portion from the plate. To sever the stem portion of the ID tag from the plate, the stem portion is either cut or is twisted until severed from the plate.  
           [0005]    A consequence of severing the stem portion of the ID tag from the plate is that a burr of metal can remain attached to the plate in the location where the stem portion was removed. A bone fracture reduction apparatus which includes a plate and a removable ID tag that will not leave a burr on the plate is desirable.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0006]    The present invention is an implantable apparatus for attaching bone fragments in a bone fracture reduction procedure. The apparatus comprises a bone affixation plate and a polymeric applicator having a deflectable portion that is deflectable to engage a portion of the plate to attach the applicator to the plate. The applicator is thereafter deflectable to disengage from the portion of the plate to remove the applicator from the plate. The applicator, when attached to the plate, enables the plate to be handled and manipulated during the bone fracture reduction procedure.  
           [0007]    In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the applicator further includes means for identifying the plate.  
           [0008]    In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the deflectable portion of the applicator attaches to the plate with a snap fit.  
           [0009]    In accordance with yet another aspect of the invention, removal of the applicator from the plate leaves no residue of the applicator on the plate.  
           [0010]    In accordance with still another aspect of the invention, the deflectable portion includes first and second legs that together form a receptacle for receiving the portion of the plate. The first and second legs extend from a main body portion of the applicator and being resiliently deflectable away from one another. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]    The foregoing and other features of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which the present invention relates upon reading the following summary with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an implantable bone fracture reduction apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention; and  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a portion of the apparatus of FIG. 1 wherein a plate of the apparatus is separated from an applicator of the apparatus. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS  
       [0014]    An implantable bone fracture reduction apparatus  10  constructed in accordance with the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 1. The apparatus  10  includes a thin, malleable plate  12  made of a biocompatible material, such as titanium. The plate  12 , commonly referred to as a “mesh,” could alternatively be made from other metallic materials or from non-metallic materials. The plate  12  is for fixation of a bone fracture and includes at least two openings  14 , six of which are shown in FIG. 1, that extend through the plate  12 . Each of the openings  14  extends through a circular lobe  16  of the plate  12 . Each of the openings  14  is designed to receive a bone screw, such as the bone screw  60  shown in FIG. 1. It should be understood that the present invention could be adapted for any of the wide variety of the known plate configurations that are commercially available and that include one or more openings for bone screws.  
         [0015]    The implantable bone fracture reduction apparatus  10  further includes a polymeric applicator  18 . The applicator  18  includes a handle portion  20  and a deflectable portion  22 . The handle portion  20  includes means  24  for identifying the plate  12  to which the applicator  18  is attached. The identifying means  24  may include a lot number, a product number, bone screw sizes, plate configuration, and any other identifying information. Additionally, the applicator  18  may be color coded for identifying information about the plate  12 , such as bone screw sizes.  
         [0016]    In addition to providing information identifying the plate  12 , the handle portion  20  of the applicator  18  also provides means for handling and manipulating the plate  12  during the fracture reduction procedure. When the applicator  18  is attached to the plate  12 , the handle portion  20  permits a user of the apparatus  10  to adjust the position of the plate  12  by moving the handle portion  20  of the applicator  18 .  
         [0017]    The handle portion  20  illustrated in FIG. 1 is flat and axially elongated. Alternative embodiments of the handle portion  20  may be curved or bent at an angle, or may have gripping features. Further, the handle portion  20  may have a flexible polymer outer layer with a bendable supporting structure, such as a metallic wire, inside the outer layer.  
         [0018]    As shown in FIG. 2, the deflectable portion  22  of the applicator  18  includes a receptacle  26  that is sized and shaped for receiving and engaging one of the lobes  16  of the plate  12 . The receptacle  26  illustrated in FIG. 2 is semi-circular and is formed from a pair of legs  28  and  30  of the deflectable portion  22  of the applicator  18 . A first leg  28  is formed by a first arched portion  32  and forms a first part of the receptacle  26 . A second leg  30  is formed from a second arched portion  34  and forms a second part of the receptacle  26 . A short axially extending slot  36  separates the first arched portion  32  from the second arched portion  34  on the deflectable portion  22  of the applicator  18 . The first arched portion  32  of the first leg  28  extends in a direction opposite to the second arched portion  34  of the second leg  30  so that the first and second legs  28  and  30  collectively form the semi-circular receptacle  26 . Terminal ends  38  and  40  of the first and second arched portions  32  and  34 , respectively, are separated by a space  42  through which the lobe  16  of the plate  12  passes when the applicator  18  is being attached to the plate  12 . An inner surface  44  and  46  of each arched portion  32  and  34  includes a circumferentially extending groove  48  for receiving the lobe  16  of the plate  12 .  
         [0019]    The deflectable portion  22  of the applicator  18  engages and attaches to the lobe  16  of the plate  12  with a snap fit. To attach the applicator  18  to the plate  12 , the deflectable portion  22  of the applicator is aligned with the lobe  16  of the plate such that the terminal ends  38  and  40  of the arched portions  32  and  34  contact t-.he respective lobe  16 . The applicator  18  is then pressed toward the plate  12  so that the first and second legs  28  and  30  of the deflectable portion  22  of the applicator  18  deflect away from one another and the lobe  16  of the plate  12  is received in the receptacle  26 . The axial slot  36  separating the first and second legs  28  and  30  enables the deflection of the legs  28  and  30  away from one another.  
         [0020]    When received in the receptacle  26  of the deflectable portion  22  of the applicator  18 , the lobe  16  of the plate  12  seats in the groove  48  on the inner surface  44  and  46  of each leg  28  and  30 . Once the lobe  16  is received in the receptacle  26 , the legs  28  and  30  snap back to their non-deflected positions (shown in FIG. 1) and clamp the lobe  16  of the plate  12  to secure the applicator  18  to the plate  12 .  
         [0021]    During a surgical procedure, the applicator  18  allows a user of the apparatus  10  to handle and manipulate the plate  12  to a desired position relative to a bone fracture. After the plate  12  is affixed to bone using bone screws, the applicator  18  is removed from the plate  12  by simply pulling the applicator off of the plate  12 . When the applicator  18  is pulled relative to the plate  12 , the legs  28  and  30  of the deflectable portion  22  of the applicator deflect away from one another as the receptacle  26  of the deflectable portion disengages from the lobe  16  of the plate  12 . Removal of the applicator  18  leaves behind only the plate  12 , i.e., no residue of the applicator  18 , such as a burr, is left on the plate  12 .  
         [0022]    From the above description of the invention, those skilled in the art will perceive improvements, changes and modifications. For example, it should be understood that the applicator disclosed above could be modified to engage a variety of structural features found in various bone plates, such as the upper and lower surface surfaces of a plate or an opening in the plate. Such improvements, changes and modifications within the skill of the art are intended to be covered by the appended claims.