Abstract:
The present invention relates to an assisted positioning device for bone plate, including: a bone plate, a first positioning component and a second positioning component. The surface of the bone plate configured a number of positioning grooves in order to correspond with a number of bone screws provided for the integration. One end portion of the bone plate configures a first positioning slot, and the first positioning slot is containing a gap. When the end portion of the first positioning component combined the first positioning slot, a first positioning pin can be penetrated by a first through slot of the first positioning component, and in line with the gap. The device can actually reduce the size of incision, shorten the healing time after surgery, and have precisely positioning capabilities.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to a device for bone plate. In particular, the present invention is an assisted positioning device for bone plate which can reduce the size of patient&#39;s incision and shorten healing time after surgery. 
         [0003]    2. Prior Art 
         [0004]    When having a traffic accident or falling down, human skins and bones are often hit by impact force directly. If it&#39;s minor, people would only have flesh wounds, but if it&#39;s serious, people would have a break in bones which is known as “bone fracture”. Besides wearing the traditional plasters cast or splints, the most common way to deal with the fracture is to use bone screw and bone plate to fix it through surgery. But the surgical equipment is too heavy, expensive, and complicated to operate. It not only wastes the medical sources but also raises the risk because of the long surgery time. 
         [0005]      FIG. 1  is a side view illustrating a surgical method of bone fracture from U.S. Pat. No. 5,951,557. As shown in  FIG. 1 , when patient&#39;s arm  10  bone  11  fractured, paramedics need to approach an incision  12  in patient&#39;s arm  10  and use medical equipment  20  to expand the incision  12  for showing the fractured bone  11 .And then inserting the bone plate  30  through the incision  12 , using numbers of screw holes  31  to combine the fractured bone  11  and stitch the incision  12  to allow the fractured bone  11  to heal by itself. It is not very pragmatic for this kind of surgery because it needs to cut a larger incision  12  to position bone  11  which could be painful for a long time, and take a longer healing time after surgery. 
         [0006]    Therefore, it&#39;s meaningful to think how to reduce the incision size during bone fracture surgery, shorten the healing time and have precisely positioning capabilities. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    One aspect of the present invention is to provide an assisted positioning device for bone plate which can reduce the size of incision, shorten healing time and have precisely positioning capabilities. 
         [0008]    In order to achieve this aim, the present invention includes an assisted positioning device for bone plate comprising:
   a bone plate, having several positioning grooves in the surface in order to correspond with a number of bone screws provided for the integration, and one end portion of the bone plate configures a first positioning slot, and the other end portion of the bone plate configures a second positioning slot, and the first positioning slot includes a gap;   a first positioning component, having a first through slot configured in central axis of the first positioning component, and the first through slot can allow a first positioning pin to insert inside. When one end portion of said first positioning component is combined with the first positioning slot, the first positioning pin can penetrate the first through slot and the first positioning slot. The first positioning pin size is smaller than the gap; a second positioning component, having a first end portion and a second end portion, and the second positioning component configures a second through slot in central axis of the second positioning component to connect the first end portion and the second end portion and the second through slot can allow a second positioning pin to insert inside. When the first end portion of the second positioning component is combined with the second positioning slot, the second positioning pin can penetrate the second through slot and the second positioning slot. The second end portion size is smaller than the second positioning slot.   
 
         [0011]    According to one embodiment of the present invention, said first positioning slot further includes a central slot and at least one spacing hole, and said first positioning component further includes at least one positioning convex which can be inserted respectively into corresponding spacing holes of the first positioning slot. 
         [0012]    According to one embodiment of the present invention, said second positioning slot further includes a central slot and at least one spacing hole, and said second positioning component further includes at least one positioning convex which can be inserted respectively into corresponding spacing holes of the second positioning slot. 
         [0013]    According to one embodiment of the present invention, the interior surfaces of said first and second positioning slot all configure screw threads, and the exterior surfaces of one end portion of the first positioning slot which can be combined with said first positioning component configure screw threads and the exterior surfaces of said first end portion of the second positioning component configure screw threads. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0014]      FIG. 1  illustrates the bone fracture surgical method of U.S. Pat. No. 5,951,557; 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  illustrates the appearance of bone plate positioning device according to the present invention; 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  illustrates the appearance of the first positioning component according to the present invention; 
           [0017]      FIG. 4  illustrates the method of operating the bone plate positioning device according to the present invention; 
           [0018]      FIG. 5  illustrates the method of operating the bone plate positioning device according to the present invention; 
           [0019]      FIG. 6  illustrates the method of operating the bone plate positioning device according to the, present invention; 
           [0020]      FIG. 7  illustrates the method of operating the bone plate positioning device according to the present invention; 
           [0021]      FIG. 8  illustrates the method of operating the bone plate positioning device according to the present invention; 
           [0022]      FIG. 9  illustrates the method of operating the bone plate positioning device according to the present invention; 
           [0023]      FIG. 10  illustrates the method of operating the bone plate positioning device according to the present invention; 
           [0024]      FIG. 11  illustrates the appearance of the first positioning component according to another embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0025]      FIG. 12  illustrates the appearance of the bone plate according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0026]    The present invention relates to an assisted positioning device for bone plate comprising a bone plate and two positioning component sets. To operate it with X-rays, the design of the bone plate will let the bone plate be positioned with bone accurately without larger incisions as before. 
         [0027]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , an appearance of a bone plate  50  of the assisted positioning device, the bone plate  50  having a several positioning grooves  53 , and one end of the bone plate configures a first positioning slot  51  and the other end portion of the bone plate  50  configures a second positioning slot  52 . The first positioning slot  51  includes a gap  515  which can link to others. The interior surfaces of the first positioning slot  51  and the second positioning slot  52  configure screw threads that can allow the first positioning slot  51  and the second positioning slot  52  to be combined with two positioning components respectively. In addition, the first positioning slot  51  comprises a central slot  511 , at least one spacing hole and a spacing convex rib  514  around the central slot  511  in order to correspondingly connect the positioning components of different standards. In this embodiment of the present invention, these spacing holes will be illustrated by a first spacing hole  512  and a second spacing hole  513  for instance, but the present invention does not limit the number of spacing holes. 
         [0028]      FIG. 3  illustrates the appearance of the first positioning component according to the present invention. Referring to  FIG. 1  at the same time, the first positioning component  70  is having a first through slot  71  configured in central axis of the first positioning component  70 , and the first through slot  71  can allow a first positioning pin  74  to insert inside. This first positioning pin  74  refers to Kirschner pin which is usually seen in normal bone fracture surgery. The first positioning pin  74  can penetrate the first through slot  71  and the first positioning slot  51  when one end portion of the first positioning component  70  is combined with the first positioning slot  51 . Additionally, the first positioning pin  74  can be inserted into corresponding gap  515  for stabilizing and positioning since the size of the first positioning pin  74  is smaller than gap  515 . The interior surface of the first positioning slot  51  configures screw threads, and the exterior surface of one end portion of the first positioning component  70  also configures screw threads, and they can match each other. When the first positioning slot  51  comprises a central slot  511 , a first spacing hole  512 , a second spacing hole  513 , and a spacing convex rib  514  which is placed around the central slot  511 , the first positioning component  70  has a central slot  511  which can allow the first positioning pin  74  to insert inside and the end portion of the first positioning component  70  is combined with the first positioning slot  51  includes at least one positioning convex. At this embodiment, we will illustrate this positioning convexes by a first positioning convex  72  and a second positioning convex  73  for instance, but we will not limit it. The first positioning convex  72  and the second positioning convex  73  can be inserted into the first spacing hole  512  and second spacing hole  513  of the first positioning slot  51  respectively, and it makes the first positioning component  70  and the first positioning slot  51  be combined with together stably without moving. When the first positioning component  70  is hit by external force accidentally, if we only rely on the first positioning convex  72  and the second positioning convex  73  to position it, it will let them be broken or damaged easily because of the impact strength is all gathering on the contact surface which consists of the first positioning convex  72 , the second positioning convex  73 , the first spacing hole  512  and the second spacing hole  513 . Therefore, the spacing convex rib  514  which is placed around the central slot  511  can separate the impact strength into the interior surfaces of the first  72  and second  73  positioning convexes, or even separate the impact strength into the interior surface of the central slot  511  of the first positioning component  70 . It can avoid gathering impact strength on only one spot, and lengthen the first positioning component  70  service lifetimes. In this embodiment of present invention, it will be illustrated by two spacing holes and two corresponding positioning convexes for instance, and we can also use three spacing holes and three corresponding positioning convexes or four spacing holes and four corresponding positioning convexes. We will not limit the quantities of spacing holes and corresponding positioning convexes. 
         [0029]    In another embodiment of present invention, the collocation of the first positioning component and the first positioning slot could be another form, and please refer to  FIGS. 11 and 12 . The first positioning slot  51  comprises a central slot  511 , a spacing convex rib  514  which is placed around central slot  511  and a gap  515  that can link outwards. The spacing convex rid  514  makes the first positioning slot  51  become two half-mooned shaped spacing holes—the first  512  and the second  513  spacing holes; said first positioning component  70  configures with a first through slot  71  in central site and two half-mooned shaped first  72  and second  73  positioning convexes. The first  72  and second  73  positioning convexes can be coupled respectively with the first  512  and second  513  spacing holes on the first positioning slot  51  for making the combination of the first positioning component  70  and first positioning slot  51  stable without moving. The spacing convex rib  514  also can make the first positioning component  70  and the first positioning slot  51  more stable without whirling. In this embodiment of present invention, we illustrate it by a spacing convex rib which becomes two spacing holes corresponding with two positioning convexes for instance, and we can let it be three or four. We will not limit the quantities of the spacing convex ribs, spacing holes and positioning convexes. 
         [0030]      FIGS. 4 to 10  illustrate the operating method according to present invention. As shown in drawings, refers to  FIGS. 2 and 3  at the same time, we can place a suitable size bone plate  50  on the fractured bone at first and confirm the relative position of bone plate  50  and bone  61  by X-rays when a bone  61  fractures in a patient&#39;s arm  60  (It is not limited to arms which also could be legs). Because of the function of fluoroscopy, X-rays can show exactly where the fracture is and the best combination position of bone plate  50  and bone  61 . After confirming this position, it can allow one end portion of the first positioning component  70  to be combined with the first positioning slot  51  to become one integration (by bolt-on or the combination type of first  72  and second  73  positioning convexes) and the first positioning pin (Kirschner pin)  74  can penetrate the first through slot  71  of the first positioning component  70  and the first positioning slot  51 , and then we insert the first positioning pin  74  into bone  61  by rotating. It might cause a little vibration when the first positioning pin (Kirschner pin)  74  is inserted into bone  61  by rotating, this vibration might cause distortion, or destroy the penetration point, or destroy the interior surface of the first positioning slot  51 . Because the combination of the first positioning component  70  and the first positioning slot  51  is combined stably and the first through slot  71  limits the shaking space of the first positioning pin (Kirschner pin)  74 , so it can avoid the vibration when inserting the first positioning pin  74  into bone  61 . 
         [0031]    The relative position of the first positioning pin  74  and bone  61  are confirmed when we insert the first positioning pin  74  into the bone  61 . Then we separate the first positioning component  70  from the first positioning slot  51 . We can move the bone plate  50  when the first positioning pin  74  is moved out of the first through slot  71 . As the result of the size of gap  515  of the first positioning slot  51  on bone plate  50  is designed to be bigger than the first positioning pin  74 , when we move the bone plate  50 , the first positioning pin  74 , whose position is already confirmed can pass through the gap  515  and the first positioning pin  74  is separated from the bone plate  50 . After the first positioning pin  74  is separated from the bone plate  50 , paramedics can cut a incision  62  on patient&#39;s arm  60  and insert the bone plate  50  into the arm  60  through this incision  62 . Because of the first positioning pin  74  being inserted into the bone  61 , when we insert the bone plate  50  into the arm  60 , we should move the bone plate  50  until the first positioning pin  74  pass through the gap  515  and the first positioning pin  74  is inserted into the first positioning slot  51  again. Then we use the x-rays to confirm whether the position of the bone plate  50  and the first positioning pin  74  are correct or not. After that we can announce one end portion of the bone plate  50  and bone  61  are accurately positioned preliminary. 
         [0032]    After we finish positioning one end portion of the bone plate  50  and bone  61 , it will need to position the other end portion of the bone plate  50  and bone  61 . The relative position of bone plate  50  and bone  61  won&#39;t be changed when two end portions of the bone plate are all positioned completely. We need to notice that the distance between first positioning pin  74  and central point of incision  62  is the same as the length of bone plate  50 . Then we will make it more convenient to position one end portion of bone plate  50  and bone  61 . After confirming the positioning spot, a second positioning component  80  will be combined with a second positioning slot  52  as a integration. A second positioning component  80  comprises a first end portion  81 , a second end portion  82  and a second through slot  83  in central site for connecting the first  81  and second  82  end portions, which allows a second positioning pin (Kirschner pin)  84  inside the second through slot  83  to move. And when the first end portion  81  is combined with the second positioning slot  52 , it can let the second positioning pin  84  penetrate the second through slot  83  and the second positioning slot  52 . The size of second end portion  82  of the second positioning component  80  is smaller than the second positioning slot  52 . Because of the exterior surface of first end portion  81  of second positioning component  80  and the interior surface of second positioning slot  52  all configure screw threads, when them are combined as a integration, the structure is stable that it won&#39;t loose easily when hit by external force.(The second positioning component  80  and the second positioning slot  52  can each have the same structure as said the first positioning component  70  and the first positioning slot  51 . As the combination structure type of the first spacing hole  512  and the first positioning convex  72 , according to present invention there is no limit whether the second positioning component  80  needs the same structure or not.) When the second positioning component  80  is combined with the second positioning slot  52  as a integration, we can let the second positioning pin (Kirschner pin)  84  pass through the second through slot  83  of the second positioning component  80  and the second positioning slot  52 , and then the second positioning pin  84  is inserted into the bone  61  by rotating to finish positioning the bone plate  50  and the two sides of bone  61 . 
         [0033]    When we finish positioning two sides of bone plate  50  and bone  61 , we can do next step of surgery by using another bone plate  50 ′(The size and appearance is totally the same as bone plate  50 ). Because of the size of second end portion  82  of the second positioning component  80  is smaller than the second positioning slot  52 , we can easily insert the second end portion  82  of the second positioning component  80  into the second positioning slot(not shown in Fig.) of the bone plate  50 ′. And the first positioning slot(not shown in Fig.) of the bone plate  50 ′ also can be inserted into the first positioning pin  74  through its gap(not shown in Fig.), and then we can combine the first positioning component  70  with the first positioning slot(not shown in Fig.) of the bone plate  50 ′ for avoiding the movement of bone plate  50 ′. At this time, the bone plate  50  is combined with bone  61  inside patient&#39;s arm  60 , and the bone plate  50 ′ is combined with patient&#39;s arm  60 , and the bone plate  50 ′ is on the top of patient&#39;s arm  60 . Viewing from top to down, bone plate  50  and  50 ′ will be a superposition from up and down, and both the first positioning slot, the second positioning slot and each positioning slots will be overlapped to each other. 
         [0034]    After the first and second positioning slots, and each positioning grooves of bone plate  50  and  50 ′ are overlapping, we can decide which positioning grooves(not shown in Fig.) need to be used according to the position of each positioning grooves of bone plate  50 ′. When the positioning grooves(not shown in Fig.) which we want to use is confirmed, we can mark some symbols  90  in patient&#39;s arm  60  skin corresponding to the positioning grooves(not shown in Fig.) which is used on bone plate  50 ′, and then we separate one end portion of bone plate  50 ′ from the first positioning component  70  and the first positioning pin  74 , and separate the other end portion from the second positioning component  80 . At this time, there are some symbols  90  left on patient&#39;s arm  60  skin. Paramedics can cut the patient&#39;s arm  60  skin according to those symbols  90 , making a small incision until showing the corresponding positioning grooves  53  of bone plate  50 . After that, paramedics can combine some bone screws  100  with each corresponding positioning grooves  53  through those small incisions which are corresponding to each symbols  90 , and the bone screws pass through each positioning grooves  53  and are inserted into bone  61 . It can combine the bone plate  50  with bone  61  strongly by the bone screws  100  to assemble the fractured bone  61 . The interior surfaces of each positioning grooves  53  configure screw threads for increasing the stability of bone screws  100  whose exterior surface configure screw threads. After each bone screws  100  are combined with the corresponding positioning grooves  53  as a integration, paramedics can separate the second positioning component  80  and the first positioning pin  74  from bone plate  50  or bone  61  through the second positioning slot  52  and the first positioning slot  51  respectively, and then stitch the incision  62  and those small incisions to finish the fractured bone surgery. 
         [0035]    Using this assisted positioning device for bone plate of present invention in fractured bone surgery can reduce the size of the patient&#39;s incisions, and avoid damaging the soft tissue and muscle and shorten healing time after surgery. Because the size of incisions becomes small, the bone fracture surgery will be more acceptable by the patients, and it has two advantages, more beautiful and less painful. Furthermore, the whole bone fracture surgery time will be reduced because the simplification of an assisted positioning device for bone plate of present invention which makes the paramedics do surgery more easily and decrease the surgical expenses, and it can let the medical sources to be use in more important places. 
         [0036]    While the foregoing description discloses the preferred embodiments of the present invention in particular detail, it must be understood that numerous modifications, substitutions and changes can be undertaken without departing from the true spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the ensuing claims. The invention is therefore not limited to specific preferred embodiments as described, but is only limited as defined by the following claims.