# US 10,117,689 B2 · Variable angle blade plate system and method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,117,689 B2 - Document ID: US10117689B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/832,104 - Filed: 2017-12-05 - Published: 2018-06-07 - Granted: 2018-11-06 - Earliest claimed: 2013-09-19 - Assignees: McGinley Engineered Solutions, LLC - Applicants: McGinley Engineered Solutions, LLC - Inventors: Dan Zlotolow - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10117689B2 ## CPC - A61B 17/809: {with bone-penetrating elements, e.g. blades or prongs (bone staples A61B17/0642; intramedullary nails with a plate at an end A61B17/7233)} - A61B 17/80: Cortical plates {, i.e. bone plates; Instruments for holding or positioning cortical plates, or for compressing bones attached to cortical plates} - A61B 17/8057: {the interlocking form comprising a thread} - A61B 17/8872: {Instruments for putting said fixation devices against or away from the bone (A61B17/7074, A61B17/808 take precedence)} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract A bone fixation system having a plate with an axle and a blade or “beam” configured to engage with the axle and reside proximate to a subchondral fragment of bone in upon installation of the plate. The beam is operable to rotate about the axle on the plate and reposition the subchondral fragment of bone. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of repositioning a displaced bone fragment, the method comprising the steps of: attaching a rod to a beam, wherein the rod is part of a tool having internal and external portions that are rotatable relative to each other to affect engagement and disengagement of the beam with the rod, and wherein the rod is configured to be at least partially received by the beam; causing the beam to securely engage a portion of a bone fixation plate using the rod; and causing the beam to rotate about the portion of the plate by advancing a positioner at least partially through an opening in the plate. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the tool includes a shaft that surrounds a portion of the rod and includes a concave portion configured to abuttingly engage a convex portion of the beam. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the plate includes a retention mechanism operable to prevent disengagement of the beam with the plate unless the retention mechanism is biased toward a portion of the plate by the rod. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the beam includes a bone fragment-grip feature configured to (i) pierce a bone fragment as the beam rotates relative to the plate, and (ii) provide fixation between the beam and the bone fragment. ### Claim 5 A method of treating a bone fracture by altering angulation of a fracture fragment of a bone using a bone fixation system, the method comprising the steps of: securing a beam to a bone fixation plate, wherein the plate has at least one beam engagement feature used for securing the beam to the plate, and wherein the beam has an end portion with (i) a plate engagement feature operable to rotatably engage the at least one beam engagement feature of the plate, (ii) at least one bone engagement feature operable to engage a portion of a bone, and (iii) a retention feature operable to prevent detachment of the beam from the plate; securing the plate to the fracture fragment of the bone; advancing a screw through the plate to abut the beam; causing the beam to pivot with respect to the plate by further advancing the screw through the plate; wherein the beam includes a receiver comprising a hole extending at least partially through the beam that is operable to receive a tool, and wherein the hole is sized and shaped to threadedly receive a terminally-threaded inserter/extractor rod of the tool, the rod configured to facilitate the securing of the beam to the plate. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method according to claim 5, wherein, the tool includes internal and external portions that are rotatable relative to each other to affect the engagement and/or disengagement of the beam with the rod, and the tool includes a shaft that surrounds a portion of the rod and includes a concave portion configured to abuttingly engage a convex portion of the beam. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The method according to claim 5, wherein the bone engagement feature is operable to at least partially penetrate the portion of the bone. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The method according to claim 5, wherein the plate includes an opening operable to receive a positioner. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method according to claim 8, wherein the opening extends through the plate at an angle that is oblique to a plane defined by a surface of the plate so as to direct the positioner toward an end of the plate having the at least one beam engagement feature. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The method according to claim 8, wherein the positioner is a screw operable to threadably advance through the opening and engage a portion of the beam, and cause the beam to pivot relative to the plate. ### Claim 11 (depends on 5) The method according to claim 5, wherein, the plate includes a retention mechanism operable to prevent disengagement of the beam with the plate unless the retention mechanism is biased toward the portion of the plate by the rod, and the plate is operable to allow rotation of the beam about the portion of the plate when a positioner is moved with respect to the opening in the plate. ### Claim 12 (depends on 5) The method according to claim 5, wherein, the at least one beam engagement feature of the plate is an axle that defines an axis of rotation, and the at least one bone engagement feature and the retention feature of the beam are spaced from each other about a curved portion of the beam that is operable to rotatably engage the axle to permit rotation of the beam relative to the plate about the axis of rotation. ### Claim 13 (depends on 5) The method according to claim 5, wherein the plate includes two beam engagement features that are elongated and extended in a direction substantially parallel to each other on an end of the plate.