Hydrogel bone plate spacer
AssigneeZimmer Technology, Inc.
InventorsMichael Wack, Lisa Schroder, Hallie Brinkerhuff
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A hydrogel bone plate spacer is provided for placement between a bone plate and an underlying bone to form a fracture fixation construct at a bone fracture site. The spacer includes a hydrogel able to absorb fluid from the fracture site.
Claims25
A bone plate spacer for placement between a bone plate and an underlying bone to form a fracture fixation construct at a bone fracture site, the bone plate having a top surface and a bottom surface and holes through the plate from the top surface to the bottom surface for receiving fasteners to attach the plate to the bone, the bone plate spacer comprising:
- a body having a top surface, a bottom surface, and a plurality of fixation holes through the body from the top surface to the bottom surface to allow passage of the fasteners through the body, the body comprising a hydrogel responsive to fluid from the fracture site over time to change the rigidity of the fracture fixation construct.
A combination of a bone plate spacer and a bone plate for placement over a bone at a bone fracture site to form a fracture fixation construct, the combination comprising:
- a bone plate having an elongated body having a top surface, a bottom surface, and a plurality of holes extending through the body from the top surface to the bottom surface able to receive fasteners;
- and
- a bone plate spacer, the spacer having a body with a top surface and a bottom surface and being positionable between the bone plate and the bone, the body comprising a hydrogel able to absorb fluid from the fracture site over time to change the rigidity of the fracture fixation construct.
A method of treating a bone fracture comprising:
- positioning a hydrogel spacer adjacent to a bone fracture;
- placing a bone plate over the hydrogel spacer;
- and
- inserting fixation members through the bone plate and hydrogel spacer and into the bone to form a fracture fixation construct including the plate, spacer, fixation members and bone.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.