Adjustable bone plate

Abstract

The invention pertains to adjustable bone plates which comprise one or more sets of first members and second members. The first members and second members are releaseably secured to each other by attachment means and locking means, and two or more set of first members and second members are connected by bridging means. The longitudinal and lateral dimensions of the bone plates may be adjustable.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A bone plate having an adjustable longitudinal length comprising:
 a first member having a proximal end and a distal end and an upper surface and a lower surface, the proximal end comprising a projection and the distal end comprising at least one bone screw bore;   a second member having a proximal end and a distal end and an upper surface and a lower surface, the proximal end comprising a recess in the upper surface shaped to receive and guide the projection and the distal end comprising at least one bone screw bore;   the recess having an open end at the proximal end of the second member, a distal wall opposite the open end and opposing side walls extending from the open end to the distal wall;   the projection slideably engaged with the recess; and   locking means for releaseably locking the projection in the recess;   wherein the lower surfaces of the first and second members being shaped to overlie a bone, wherein the length of the bone plate is adjustable by sliding the projection longitudinally within the recess, the side walls of the recess guide the projection to prevent lateral movement, and the locking means locks the projection at a point within the recess when the bone plate is adjusted to a desired length.   
     
     
         22 . The bone plate of  claim 21  wherein the projection comprises an opening and the recess has a locking means bore proximate to the recess and the locking means is translated through the opening and the locking means bore. 
     
     
         23 . The bone plate of  claim 22  wherein the first member comprises a first member first end, a first member second end, a first member forward side and a first member distal side and the second member comprises a second member first end, a second member second end, a second member forward side and a second member distal side and wherein i) the first member has a second end surface at the first member second end with the projection protruding from the second end surface, the projection having a projection forward side, a projection distal side, a projection end, a projection upper surface and projection lower surface wherein the projection forward side is opposed and parallel to the projection distal side with the projection end there between perpendicular to the projection forward side and projection distal side and opposite to the second end surface. 
     
     
         24 . The bone plate of  claim 23  wherein
 a) the first member first end comprises
 i) a first member forward circular element, a first member first forward termination point and a first member second forward termination point with the first member forward circular element having a continuous side from the first member first forward termination point to the first member second forward termination point; 
 ii) a first member distal circular element, a first member first distal termination point and a first member second distal termination point with the first member distal circular element having a continuous side from the first member first distal termination point to the first member second distal termination point; and 
 iii) a first member center section adjacent to the first member first forward termination point and the first member first distal termination point which extends from the first member first forward termination point to the first member first distal termination point; and 
 
 b) the second member first end comprises
 i) a second member forward circular element, a second member first forward termination point and a second member second forward termination point with the second member forward circular element having a continuous side from the second member first forward termination point to the second member second forward termination point; 
 ii) a second member distal circular element, a second member first distal termination point and a second member second distal termination point with the second member distal circular element having a continuous side from the second member first distal termination point to the second member second distal termination point; and 
 iii) a second member center section adjacent to the second member first forward termination point and the second member first distal termination point which extends from the second member first forward termination point to the second member first distal termination point. 
 
 The plate of claim  5  comprising a first set of first member and second member and a second set of first member and second member wherein a first bridging means connects the first member of the first set with the second member of the second set and a second bridging means connects the second member of the first set with the first member of the second set. 
 
     
     
         25 . The bone plate of  claim 24  wherein
 a) the first member of each set comprises a first member protuberance which extends from the first member forward side at a point between the first member first end and first member second end with the first member protuberance having a top surface, a bottom surface and a first member protuberance end wall and a first member bridging rod bore defined by the first member bridging rod bore wall having a first member bridging rod bore opening at the first member protuberance end wall with the first member bridging rod bore extending from the first member bridging rod bore opening to a point between the first member forward side and first member distal side, and 
 b) the second member of each set comprises a second member protuberance which extends from the second member forward side at a point between the second member first end and second member second end with the second member protuberance having a top surface, a bottom surface and a second member protuberance end wall and a second member bridging rod bore defined by the second member bridging rod bore wall having a second member bridging rod bore opening at the second member protuberance end wall with the second member bridging rod bore extending from the second member bridging rod bore opening to a point between the second member forward side and second member distal side. 
 
     
     
         26 . The bone plate of  claim 25  wherein each second member further comprises a bridging means locking bore defined by a bridging means locking bore wall which has an upper opening at the second member upper surface and/or the top surface of the second member protuberance and a lower opening at the second member bridging rod bore wherein the bridging means locking bore extends from the upper opening and bisects the second member bridging rod bore. 
     
     
         27 . The bone plate of  claim 25  wherein the bridging means locking bore wall is threaded. 
     
     
         28 . The bone plate of  claim 25  wherein each first member comprises a retaining pin hole proximate to the first member protuberance which is defined by a retaining pin hole wall and bisects the first member bridging means bore. 
     
     
         29 . The bone plate of  claim 27  wherein the retaining pin hole comprises one or more threaded sections. 
     
     
         30 . The bone plate of  claim 24  wherein each bridging means comprises a) a bridging rod having a circular end and a tapered end opposite thereto with a cylindrical section having a continuous curved outer section extending from the circular end to a cylindrical section termination point between the cylindrical end and the tapered end and a tapered section which extends from the cylindrical section termination point to the tapered end the tapered section comprising a top side having a slanted piece and a level piece having a first end and a second end at the tapered end wherein the slanted piece extends from the cylindrical section termination point to the first end of the slanted piece and b) bridge locking means. 
     
     
         31 . A method for applying a bone plate to a patient comprising the steps of
 a) providing a bone plate having one or more sets of first members and second members which may be releaseably secured together by attachment means wherein each first member and second member comprises one or more bone screw bores defined by bone screw bore walls,   b) securing a first member to the broken bone of a patient by placing the first member over the bone and translating one or more bone attachment means through one or more of the bone screw bores and into the bone;   c) securing a second member to the broken bone of a patient by placing the second member over the bone and translating one or more bone attachment means through one or more of the bone screw bores and into the bone;   d) moving the first member and/or second member to bring the pieces of broken bone together; and   e) providing locking means and applying the locking means to restrict or inhibit the first member and/or second member from moving.   
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 30  wherein the attachment means comprises a projection at the second end of each first member or second member the projection having an opening and each first member or second member which does not have the projection has a recess proximate to the second end with the recess having a locking means bore wherein the projection is aligned within the recess and the locking means is translated through the opening and the locking means bore. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 30  wherein the bone plate comprises a first member having a proximal end and a distal end and an upper surface and a lower surface, the proximal end comprising a projection and the distal end comprising at least one bone screw bore;
 a second member having a proximal end and a distal end and an upper surface and a lower surface, the proximal end comprising a recess in the upper surface shaped to receive and guide the projection and the distal end comprising at least one bone screw bore; 
 the recess having an open end at the proximal end of the second member, a distal wall opposite the open end and opposing side walls extending from the open end to the distal wall; 
 the projection slideably engaged with the recess; and 
 locking means for releaseably locking the projection in the recess; 
 wherein the first member and second member are applied to the bone of the patient and the method further comprises translating the projection within the recess. 
 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 30  wherein each first member comprises a bridge locking means bore and each second member comprises a retaining pin bore and at least one set screw and at least one retaining pin are provided and the first bridging means and second bridging means are releaseably secured to each first member by, at least, set screws translated within bridge locking means bore and are releaseably secured to each second member by the use of at least retaining pins. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 33  wherein each set of first member and second member are laterally moved to move pieces of broken bone together and, when the prices of bone are set in the desired location, the set screw is tightened.