Method and apparatus for use in operating on a bone

Abstract

An implantable device includes a body and a first mounting strip connected to a trailing end portion of the body. The body has a leading end portion, a first side surface, a second side surface, an upper surface, a lower surface and a central opening extending through the upper and lower surfaces. The central opening has an internal surface with an internal leading surface, a first internal side surface and a second internal side surface. A first depth is defined between the leading end and the internal leading surface, a first spacing is defined between the first side surface and the first internal side surface and a second spacing is defined between the second side surface and the second internal side surface. The first spacing is substantially the same as the second spacing.

We claim: 
     
         1 . An apparatus assembly for use in association with bones of a patient, the apparatus assembly comprising:
 a body constructed of a polymeric material including a thick end portion, a thin end portion defining a thin end axis that extends between first and second opposite ends, a first side portion having a first side surface, a second side portion having a second side surface, an upper surface and a lower surface, the thick end portion having a first thickness and the thin end portion having a second thickness, the first thickness being greater than the second thickness, the body including a central opening extending generally vertically through the upper surface and the lower surface, the central opening having an internal surface including an internal leading surface, a first internal side surface and a second internal side surface, a maximum central opening width defined between the first and second internal side surfaces and oriented substantially parallel to the thin end axis, the first internal side surface being spaced from the first side surface at a first spacing and the second internal side surface being spaced from the second side surface at a second spacing, the first spacing being substantially equal to the second spacing, the maximum central opening width being greater than a sum of the first spacing and the second spacing, the body having a frusta-cylindrical-shape; and   a mounting strip configured to abut the thick end portion, the mounting strip constructed of a metallic material, the mounting strip including a first screw hole and a second screw hole.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first screw having a first head and a first threaded shaft; and   a second screw having a second head and a second threaded shaft, the first screw hole configured to receive the first screw at least partially therein and the second screw hole configured to receive the second screw at least partially therein in a mounted configuration, at least a portion of the first and second threaded shafts engaging hard cortical bone of the patient's bones in the mounted configuration.   
     
     
         3 . The apparatus assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the first head is configured for engagement with the mounting strip proximate the first screw hole and the second head is configured for engagement with the mounting strip proximate the second screw hole in the mounted configuration. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first screw hole is positioned substantially above the upper surface and the second screw hole is positioned substantially below the lower surface in the mounted configuration, the thin end portion tapering to a thin edge. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first spacing is equal to the second spacing. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the upper and lower surfaces define an acute angle. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the acute angle is between one degree and twenty degrees. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the mounting strip includes an upper portion extending above the upper surface and a lower portion extending below the lower surface in a mounted configuration. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the body defines a maximum body width between the first side surface and the second side surface, the maximum central opening width being greater than one half the body width. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first side surface, the second side surface, the thick end portion and the thin end portion are generally continuous between the upper and lower surfaces to laterally enclose the central opening, the body comprising a wedge member. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the body includes an internal trailing surface, the central opening defined by the internal trailing surface, the internal leading surface, the first internal side surface and the second internal side surface. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the internal leading surface extends substantially parallel to the thin edge axis. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the central opening is configured to be filled with bone growth inducing material that is configured for promoting bone growth through the central opening. 
     
     
         14 . An apparatus assembly for use in association with bones of a patient, the apparatus assembly comprising:
 a body constructed of a polymeric material including a thick end portion, a thin end portion defining a thin end axis that extends between first and second opposite ends, a first side portion having a first side surface, a second side portion having a second side surface, an upper surface and a lower surface, the thick end portion having a first thickness and the thin end portion having a second thickness, the first thickness being greater than the second thickness, the body further including a central opening extending substantially vertically through the upper surface and the lower surface, the central opening having an internal surface including an internal leading surface, a first internal side surface and a second internal side surface, a maximum central opening width defined between the first and second internal side surfaces and being measured substantially parallel to the thin end axis, the first internal side surface is spaced from the first side surface at a first spacing and the second internal side surface is spaced from the second side surface at a second spacing, the first spacing being substantially the same as the second spacing, the maximum central opening width being greater than a sum of the first spacing and the second spacing;   a first screw;   a second screw;   a first mounting strip configured to abut the thick end portion in a mounted configuration, the first mounting strip constructed of a metallic material, the first mounting strip having a first screw hole and a second screw hole, the first screw hole configured to receive the first screw and the second screw hole configured to receive the second screw in the mounted configuration, the first and second screws spaced from the body in the mounted configuration; and   a second mounting strip configured to abut the thick end portion in the mounted configuration, the second mounting strip constructed of the metallic material.   
     
     
         15 . The apparatus assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the first screw includes a first head and a first threaded shaft and the second screw includes a second head and a second threaded shaft, at least a portion of the first threaded shaft positioned above the upper surface and at least a portion of the second threaded shaft positioned below the lower surface in the mounted configuration. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus assembly of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 a third mounting strip configured to abut the thick end portion in the mounted configuration.   
     
     
         17 . The apparatus assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the body is formed of a porous material, the body comprising a wedge member. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the upper and lower surfaces define an acute angle. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus assembly of  claim 18 , wherein the acute angle is between one degree and twenty degrees.