Systems and methods for the fixation or fusion of bone

Abstract

Various bone fixation/fusion devices are sized and configured to be placed across fracture fragments or between bones that are to be fused.

1 . A bone fixation/fusion device comprising 
 a body adapted for placement in association with a fracture line or between different bone segments, and    at least one fixation ridge on the body including a curvilinear portion.    
     
     
         2 . A bone fixation/fusion device comprising 
 a body adapted for placement in association with a fracture line or between different bone segments, and    at least two spaced-apart fixation ridges on the body.    
     
     
         3 . A device according to  claim 2   wherein at least one of the two spaced-apart fixation ridges includes a curvilinear portion.    
     
     
         4 . A device according to  claim 2   wherein both of the two spaced-apart fixation ridges includes a curvilinear portion.    
     
     
         5 . A device according to  claim 2   wherein the spaced-apart fixation ridges are separated by a distance, and    wherein the distance remains essentially constant from one end of the fixation ridges toward an opposite end of the fixation ridges.    
     
     
         6 . A device according to  claim 2   wherein the spaced-apart fixation ridges are separated by a distance, and    wherein the distance changes from one end of the fixation ridges toward an opposite end of the fixation ridges.    
     
     
         7 . A device as defined in  claim 1  or  2   wherein at least a portion of the body includes a region permitting bony in-growth and/or through-growth.    
     
     
         8 . A device as claimed in  claim 1   wherein said body is flexible.    
     
     
         9 . A device as claimed in  claim 8   wherein said body has a first axis extending across the width of the device and a second axis extending across the length of the device, the second axis being perpendicular to the first axis.    
     
     
         10 . A device as claimed in  claim 9  wherein said body is flexible about the first axis.  
     
     
         11 . A device as claimed in  claim 9  wherein said body is flexible about the second axis.  
     
     
         12 . A device as claimed in  claim 9  wherein said body is flexible about the first axis and the second axis.  
     
     
         13 . A device as claimed in  claim 8   wherein said body has a plurality of holes drilled therethrough.    
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 13   wherein said plurality of holes extends from a top surface of the body to a bottom surface of the body, said holes being perpendicular to the top surface of the body.    
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 13   wherein said plurality of holes extends from a top surface of the body to a bottom surface of the body, said holes being at an angle with respect to the top surface of the body.    
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 13   wherein said plurality of holes extends from a first side of the body to a second side of the body, said holes being perpendicular to the surface of either the first or second side of the body.    
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 13   wherein said plurality of holes extends from a first side of the body to a second side of the body, said holes being at an angle with respect to the top surface of the body.    
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 8   wherein said body is hollow.    
     
     
         19 . A bone fixation/fusion device comprising 
 a body adapted for placement in association with a fracture line or between different bone segments,    a first cylindrical end cap formed at a first end of the body, and    a second cylindrical end cap formed at a second end of the body.    
     
     
         20 . A method comprising 
 providing a bone fixation/fusion device comprising a body and at least one fixation ridge on the body including a curvilinear portion.    selecting a bone site,    forming a bone cavity in the bone site including at least one slot in the bone cavity sized and configured to receive the fixation ridge, and    inserting the body in the bone cavity with the fixation ridge nesting within the slot.    
     
     
         21 . A method comprising 
 providing a bone fixation/fusion device comprising a body and at least one fixation ridge on the body including a curvilinear portion.    selecting a bone site comprising a first bone segment, a second bone segment, and a non-bony region comprising an interruption between the first and second bone segments,    forming a first bone cavity in the first bone segment,    forming a second bone cavity in the second bone segment across the interruption from the first bone cavity,    forming in at least one of the first and second bone cavities at least one slot sized and configured to receive the fixation ridge, and    inserting the body in the first bone cavity, the second bone cavity, and the interruption, with the fixation ridge nesting within the slot to apply compression between the first and second bone segments.    
     
     
         22 . A method comprising 
 providing a bone fixation/fusion device comprising a body and first and second spaced-apart fixation ridges on the body,    selecting a bone site,    forming a bone cavity in the bone site including first and second slots sized and configured to receive the first and second fixation ridges, respectively, and    inserting the body in the bone cavity with the first and second fixation ridges nested within the first and second slots.    
     
     
         23 . A method comprising 
 providing a bone fixation/fusion device comprising a body and first and second spaced-apart fixation ridges on the body,    selecting a bone site,    forming a bone cavity in the bone site including first and second slots sized and configured to receive the first and second fixation ridges, respectively, and    inserting the body in the bone cavity with the first and second fixation ridges nested within the first and second slots.    
     
     
         24 . A method comprising 
 providing a bone fixation/fusion device comprising a body and first and second fixation ridges on the body,    selecting a bone site comprising a first bone segment, a second bone segment, and a non-bony region comprising an interruption between the first and second bone segments,    forming a first bone cavity in the first bone segment including forming a first slot sized and configured to receive the first fixation ridge,    forming a second bone cavity in the second bone segments across the interruption from the first bone cavity including forming a second slot sized and configured to receive the second fixation ridge, and    inserting the body in the first bone cavity, the second bone cavity, and the interruption with the first and second fixation ridges nesting within the first and second slots, respectively.    
     
     
         25 . A method comprising 
 providing a bone fixation/fusion device comprising a body and first and second fixation ridges on the body, the first and second fixation ridges being separated by a ridge separation distance,    selecting a bone site comprising a first bone segment, a second bone segment, and a non-bony region comprising an interruption between the first and second bone segments,    forming a first bone cavity in the first bone segment including forming a first slot sized and configured to receive the first fixation ridge,    forming a second bone cavity in the second bone segments across the interruption from the first bone cavity including forming a second slot sized and configured to receive the second fixation ridge, the first and second slots being separated by a slot separation distance that is greater than the ridge separation distance, and    inserting the body in the first bone cavity, the second bone cavity, and the interruption with the first and second fixation ridges nesting within the first and second slots, respectively, to apply compression between the first and second bone segments.    
     
     
         26 . A method comprising 
 providing a bone fixation/fusion device comprising a body and a cylindrical end portion formed at each end of the body,    selecting a bone site,    forming a cavity in the bone site including a cylindrical aperture at each end of the cavity sized and configured to receive the cylindrical end caps, and    inserting the body in the bone cavity with one cylindrical end portion nesting within each of the cylindrical apertures.