Abstract:
A bone fracture fixation system configured towards the treatment of a variety of different human bone fractures. The fracture fixation system including a plate portion configured to abut bone structure and having a plurality of threaded apertures designed to matingly receive a plurality of screws therein. The bone fracture fixation system will also include at least one scaffold building screw configured to extend through the plate portion and into the bone structure. The scaffold building screw will be configured to include any of a number of different configurations of bracing pegs and/or bracing screws therein to provide substantial structural integrity to the system.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. Non-Provisional patent application Ser. No. 10/993,723, filed on Nov. 19, 2004, (now abandoned); which claims the benefit of Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/552,632, filed on Mar. 12, 2004; Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/541,540, filed on Feb. 3, 2004; and Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/523,960, filed on Nov. 21, 2003; each of which is incorporated herein in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to medical devices configured towards the treatment of bone fractures, and more particularly, to a multi-faceted bone fixation system configured towards treating a variety of different human bone fractures. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     A wide variety of devices have been developed for the support and treatment of different bone fractures. Existing solutions have ranged from simplistic measures, such as bone support plates, structural rods, and other single-function prosthetic devices, to more elaborate mechanisms involving a complex arrangement of different components. 
     Although a variety of different approaches have been attempted in the past, existing solutions have consisted basically of familiar, expected, and obvious structural configurations that have proven to be inadequate or impractical in application. 
     In this respect, there is a need in the art for an efficient and effective fracture fixation system that substantially departs from the prior art, and in so doing, provides a fracture fixation system oriented towards providing significant initial structural integrity as well as rapid patient recovery. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to a bone fixation system including a plate portion and a rod portion configured for significant initial structural integrity and rapid patient recovery. 
     An object of the present invention is to provide a fracture fixation system configured to offer substantial initial structural integrity in the proximity of a bone fracture. 
     A further object of the present invention is to provide a fracture fixation system incorporating a plurality of screws configured and placed so as to maximize imbedded screw depth into bone structure having the greatest density. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a fracture fixation system utilizing a plurality of screws configured specifically for a rigid and tight hold resistant to free play and loosening. 
     An additional object of the present invention is to provide a fracture fixation system utilizing fasteners configured for divergent angle placement in order to provide increased structural load resistance. 
     A further object of the present invention is to provide a fracture fixation system configured for strategic placement in any of a wide variety of bone fracture applications. 
     These and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent from the attached drawings and the detailed description of the preferred embodiments, which follow. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The preferred embodiments of the invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings provided to illustrate and not to limit the invention, where like designations denote like elements, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a rear view of a humerus bone as located in the human skeletal system; 
         FIG. 2  is a rear view of a fractured humerus bone shown in conjunction with plates and screws as typically utilized in the prior art; 
         FIG. 3  is a rear view showing a fractured humerus bone showing an aperture drilled axially therein for placement of a rod in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a side view of the fractured humerus bone of  FIG. 3  showing the axially drilled aperture in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a side view of the fractured humerus bone shown before insertion of the rod and plate portion of the fracture fixation system in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a side view of the fractured humerus bone shown after insertion of the rod and plate portion of the fracture fixation system in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  is a rear view of the fractured humerus bone shown after complete securement of the rod and plate portion of the fracture fixation system in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 8  is a side view of the fractured humerus bone shown after complete securement of the rod and plate portion of the fracture fixation system in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 9  is a bottom view of the fractured humerus bone shown after complete securement of the rod and plate portion of the fracture fixation system in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 10  is a front view showing an illustrative screw configuration utilized in conjunction with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 11  is a rear view of the humerus bone shown in conjunction with a bone scaffolding system in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views of the drawings. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Shown throughout the figures, the present invention is generally directed to a fracture fixation system configured towards treating a variety of different human bone fractures. 
     For purposes of clarity and simplicity, the fracture fixation system of the present invention will be described and illustrated in conjunction with a fractured humerus bone  100 . As such,  FIG. 1  depicts a rear view of the humerus bone  100  alongside a human figure for perspective. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, however, that the fracture fixation system is by no means limited to the support and treatment of the humerus bone  100  and may be adapted to any of a wide variety of other situations without departing from the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  shows a fractured humerus bone  100  in conjunction with a typical prior art plate and screw support structure. In this figure, it is seen that the humerus bone  100  has multiple fracture lines  130  in the distal end  140  and is supported externally through separate plate components without any internal support mechanism. 
     Turning to the present invention,  FIGS. 3-11  illustrate the fracture fixation system  10  in various stages of completion. Initially, as indicated by the phantom lines of  FIG. 3 , access to the medullary cavity  110  is achieved by drilling axially from an insertion point  120  at the distal end  140  of the humerus bone  100  as indicated by the phantom lines shown. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that any of a wide variety of known methods may be utilized to create access to the medullary cavity  110  without departing from the present invention.  FIG. 4  shows a side view of the humerus bone  100  along with the medullary cavity  110  illustrated in phantom lines. 
     The fracture fixation system  10  is illustrated before insertion into a fractured humerus bone in  FIG. 5 . The fracture fixation system  10  of the present invention includes a rod portion  20  and a plate portion  30  as shown. The rod portion preferably includes a tip  22 , a tip portion  24 , tapered central portion  26 , and a generally curved plate abutting portion  28 . As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the plate portion  30  is configured to abut the distal end  140  of the humerus bone  100  in a secure and snug fashion when in a fully inserted position. As shown, the plate portion  30  will include a plurality of apertures  32  therein configured to permit entry of screws  40  therethru and into bone structure  100 . The screws  40  are shown in a fully inserted position in the fracture fixation system of the present invention in  FIGS. 7-9 . 
     The apertures  32  in the plate portion  30  will preferably be configured such that the central axes of the screws are not parallel to each other. In a most preferred embodiment, each screw  40  will be maintained such that its central axis is not parallel to the central axis of any other screw  40 . Such an orientation significantly increases the structural integrity of the fracture fixation system and helps prevent the plate portion from coming loose during loading conditions. Cartilage bearing bone  105  is always weakest in its central portion where it is soft, spongy trabecular bone. The mechanical quality of the cartilage bearing bone  105  is much better just below the cartilage itself, where it is known by the name of subchondral bone. A plurality of pins  34  will be utilized as shown. The pins  34  extend through apertures  35  in a manner configured to maximize the depth that is embedded into high density bone, and likewise, minimize embedded depth into weak bone. The orientation of the pins  34  is as tangential as possible to the articular surface to achieve the best purchase into the hard subchondral bone. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 10 , an exemplary embodiment of the front view of the screw  40  is shown. As illustrated, the screw  40  will be generally cylindrical in shape extending from an initial point  42  to a terminal end  46  and include thread  44  on an outer circumference thereupon. In a most preferred embodiment, the thread  42  will extend all the way up to the terminal  46  of the screw  40 . As the threading continues up to the terminal end  46  of the screw  40 , it is seen that a tight and secure connection is formed. Threading the screw  40  up to and including the terminal end  46  helps prevent any lateral displacement of the terminal end  46  of the screw  40 . In the preferred embodiment, the apertures  32  in the plate portion  30  will be internally threaded to matingly correspond to the threads  44  of screws  40 . 
     The pins  34  of the fracture fixation system  10  may be configured similar to the screws  40  in that they may be threaded to matingly correspond to internal threads of apertures  35 . As will be clear to those skilled in the art, a wide variety of known pin and screw configurations may be alternatively utilized without departing from the present invention. 
     As previously described, the fracture fixation system  10  includes a rod portion  20  and a plate portion  30  as best illustrated in  FIGS. 5-8 . The rod portion  20  is formed in an elongate conical configuration having a tip  22 , a tip portion  24 , tapered central portion  26 , and a generally curved plate abutting portion  28 . The generally curved plate abutting portion  28  includes a plurality of apertures  36  therein as shown. The apertures  36  of the plate abutting portion  28  are configured to receive a screw  48  therein as depicted in  FIGS. 7-8 . 
     In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, a screw system is provided comprising a rod screw  60  configured for insertion into a scaffold locking screw  50  as illustrated in  FIG. 11 . The scaffold locking screw  50  will preferably be configured for insertion into the bone in such a manner as to permit a rod screw  60  to be cooperatively engaged an aperture  55  therein. Although  FIG. 11  shows an exemplary embodiment wherein the rod screw  60  enters the scaffold locking screw  50  in a generally perpendicular manner, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that such a configuration is not required. In fact, any of a number of angular variations is possible and may be preferred depending upon specific circumstances surrounding a particular surgery. The rod screw  60  can be configured with threads  62  thereupon for secure engagement within the bone of a patient. Likewise, it may be desirable that the scaffold locking screw  50  include threads on an outer surface thereof to engage bone structure in a secure manner. The scaffold locking screw  50  may also include threads on an inner surface of the aperture  55  therein configured to securely engage cooperating threads on the outside circumference of the rod screw  60 . 
     Since many modifications, variations, and changes in detail can be made to the described preferred embodiments of the invention, it is intended that all matters in the foregoing description and shown in the accompanying drawings be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. Thus, the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalence.