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, at least a portion of the body including a region permitting bony in-growth and/or through-growth, the body including at least one fixation ridge.    
     
     
         2 . A device according to  claim 1   wherein the body includes at least two spaced-apart fixation ridges.    
     
     
         3 . 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.    
     
     
         4 . A device according to  claim 1   wherein the body includes a plurality of spaced-apart fixation ridges.    
     
     
         5 . A device according to  claim 1   wherein the body comprises an elongated stem-like structure.    
     
     
         6 . A device according to  claim 1   wherein the body comprises a flattened wafer-like structure.    
     
     
         7 . A bone fixation/fusion device comprising 
 a body adapted for placement in association with a fracture line or between different bone segments, at least a portion of the body including a region permitting bony in-growth and/or through-growth, the body including at least one guide bore accommodating passage of a guide pin.    
     
     
         8 . A device according to  claim 7   wherein the body includes at least two spaced-apart guide bores.    
     
     
         9 . A device according to  claim 7   wherein the body includes at least one fixation ridge.    
     
     
         10 . A device according to  claim 7   wherein the body comprises an elongated stem-like structure.    
     
     
         11 . A device according to  claim 7   wherein the body comprises a flattened wafer-like structure.    
     
     
         12 . A method comprising 
 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,    providing a body including a region permitting bony in-growth and/or through-growth, the body including at least one fixation ridge, and    inserting the body into the first bone segment, through the interruption, and into the second bone segment.    
     
     
         13 . A method according to  claim 12   wherein the body includes at least two spaced-apart fixation ridges.    
     
     
         14 . A method according to  claim 13   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.    
     
     
         15 . A method according to  claim 12   wherein the body includes a plurality of spaced-apart fixation ridges.    
     
     
         16 . A method according to  claim 12   wherein the body comprises an elongated stem-like structure.    
     
     
         17 . A method according to  claim 12   wherein the body comprises a flattened wafer-like structure.    
     
     
         18 . A method comprising 
 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,    providing a body including a region permitting bony in-growth and/or through-growth and at least one guide bore accommodating passage of a guide pin,    establishing with a guide pin a desired insertion path into the first bone segment, through the interruption, and into the second bone segment, and    passing the guide bore over the guide pin to insert the body along the desired insertion path into the first bone segment, through the interruption, and into the second bone segment.    
     
     
         19 . A method according to  claim 18   wherein the body includes at least one fixation ridge.    
     
     
         20 . A method according to  claim 18   wherein the body comprises an elongated stem-like structure.    
     
     
         21 . A method according to  claim 18   wherein the body comprises a flattened wafer-like structure.    
     
     
         22 . A bone fixation assembly comprising 
 a body traversing a first bone segment and a second bone segment through a non-bony region comprising an interruption between the first and second bone segments, the body including a region permitting bony in-growth and/or through-growth and including at least one fixation ridge.    
     
     
         23 . An assembly according to  claim 22   wherein the body comprises an elongated stem-like structure.    
     
     
         24 . An assembly according to  claim 22   wherein the body comprises a flattened wafer-like structure.    
     
     
         25 . A bone fixation assembly comprising 
 a body traversing a first bone segment and a second bone segment through a non-bony region comprising an interruption between the first and second bone segments, the body including a region permitting bony in-growth and/or through-growth and at least one guide bore accommodating passage of a guide pin along which the body is positioned.