K-wire implants for fractures
AssigneeDePuy Synthes Products, Inc.
InventorsPhillip Watt, Kory Smith, Jeffrey Loftus-Vergari, Danielle Rossi
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A variety of K-wires with imbedded plates are disclosed that allow for the plate in K-wire to be secured to the bone after insertion. Further, a donut shaped washer for capturing and securing the K-wire is disclosed. Also, a screw with a channel is disclosed that has a head shaped to capture and secure the K-wire. Finally, embodiments of a slotted washer are disclosed that captures and secures the K-wire.
Claims10
A method for implanting a K-wire wherein the K-wire comprises:
- a plate with a first screw hole;
- a driver pin attached to a first end of the plate;
- and
- an implant pin attached to a second end of the plate,
- wherein the driver pin and implant pin are substantially colinear;
- wherein the method comprises:
- reducing a bone fragment to a native bone;
- driving the K-wire through the bone fragment into the native bone;
- backing the K-wire out of the bone fragment;
- bending the K-wire to conform to the native bone so that the plate is flush to the native bone;
- pushing the bent K-wire back into the bone fragment;
- cutting off the driver pin;
- and
- inserting a screw in the first screw hole to secure the plate and the K-wire to the native bone.
A method for implanting a K-wire wherein the K-wire comprises:
- a plate with a first screw hole;
- a driver tab attached to a first end of the plate and two implant pins attached to a second end of the plate,
- wherein in the two implant pins are substantially parallel;
- wherein the method comprises:
- reducing a bone fragment to a native bone;
- drilling two holes through the bone fragment into the native bone;
- driving the K-wire into the two holes
- backing the K-wire out of the bone fragment;
- bending the K-wire to conform to the native bone so that the plate is flush to the native bone;
- pushing the bent K-wire back into the bone fragment;
- and
- inserting a screw in the first screw hole to secure the plate and the K-wire to the native bone.
A method for implanting a K-wire wherein the K-wire comprises:
- a plate with a first screw hole;
- a driver tab attached to a first end of the plate and
- two implant pins attached to a second end of the plate,
- wherein the two implant pins are substantially parallel, and
- wherein the two implant pins are different lengths;
- wherein the method comprises:
- reducing a bone fragment to a native bone;
- drilling a first hole through the bone fragment into the native bone with a generic K-wire;
- drilling a second hole through the bone fragment into the native bone with the generic K-wire;
- driving the longer implant pin into the first hole to engage the native bone;
- removing the generic K-wire from the second hole;
- aligning the shorter implant pin with the second hole;
- inserting the shorter implant pin in the second hole;
- backing the K-wire out of the bone fragment;
- bending the K-wire to conform to the native bone so that the plate is flush to the native bone;
- pushing the bent K-wire back into the bone fragment;
- and
- inserting a screw in the first screw hole to secure the plate and the K-wire to the native bone.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.