Grooved slot allowing adjustment of the position of a bone fixation device for osteosynthesis

Abstract

A grooved slot is provided in a bone fixation device for osteosynthesis that permits adjustment of the bone fixation device relative to the bone, before the bone fixation device is finally fixed to the bone. The grooves are formed on the two longitudinally extending, facing walls of the slot, with the grooves on a first side wall of the slot having a vertical displacement of exactly one-half pitch relative to the grooves on the second, opposite side wall of the slot.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An elongated bone fixation device for osteosynthesis, defining a longitudinal axis and configured to receive one or more fasteners in apertures therethrough for positioning the device relative to a bone, at least one fastener having a thread defining a shape and a pitch, the elongated bone fixation device, comprising:
 at least one aperture configured as an elongated slot extending through the bone fixation device, said elongated slot being completely enclosed and configured to receive the at least one fastener from a top of the slot;   said elongated slot including two opposing, grooved, parallel side walls, the grooves on each of said parallel side walls having a shape and a pitch configured to match the shape and pitch of the thread of the fastener, all of said grooves being disposed parallel to each other; and   wherein the grooves on a first of said parallel side walls are vertically displaced one-half of said pitch relative to the grooves on the second, opposite, side wall.   
     
     
         2 : The elongated bone fixation device of  claim 1 , wherein the bone fixation device is an intramedullary nail. 
     
     
         3 : The elongated bone fixation device of  claim 1 , wherein the bone fixation device is a bone plate. 
     
     
         4 : The elongated bone fixation device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one elongated slot is at least two elongated slots. 
     
     
         5 . The elongated bone fixation device of  claim 1 , wherein at least one elongated slot is aligned with the longitudinal axis of the bone fixation device. 
     
     
         6 . The elongated bone fixation device of  claim 1 , wherein at least one aperture is configured as a circular threaded aperture. 
     
     
         7 . The elongated bone fixation device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one elongated slot is straight. 
     
     
         8 . The elongated bone fixation device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one elongated slot is curved. 
     
     
         9 . The elongated bone fixation device of  claim 1 , wherein the longitudinal axis is straight. 
     
     
         10 . The elongated bone fixation device of  claim 1 , wherein the longitudinal axis is curved. 
     
     
         11 . The elongated bone fixation device of  claim 1 , wherein at least one elongated slot is aligned with the longitudinal axis of the bone fixation device. 
     
     
         12 . The elongated bone fixation device of  claim 11 , wherein all of said grooves are disposed parallel to the longitudinal axis of the bone fixation device. 
     
     
         13 . The elongated bone fixation device of  claim 1  wherein said grooves are adapted to permit the elongated bone fixation device to be displaced longitudinally along said slot when the at least one threaded fastener is first engaged into a cortex of a bone through the top of said slot, and to fix the elongated bone fixation device relative to the bone when the fastener is further tightened such that the threads of the fastener are fully engaged with said grooves 
     
     
         14 : A method for performing osteosynthesis, comprising the steps of:
 providing a bone fixation device according to  claim 1 ;   placing the bone fixation device into an initial position relative to a bone;   inserting a threaded fastener through the elongated slot into a cortex of a bone;   adjusting the position of the bone fixation device relative to the bone after the inserting step; and   after the adjusting step, tightening the threaded fastener into a locked position relative to the elongated slot to fix the bone fixation device relative to the bone.