# US 2019/0167321 A1 · Fixation device for proximal humerus fractures

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- Number: US 2019/0167321 A1
- Document ID: US20190167321A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 16/246,793
- Filed: 2019-01-14
- Published: 2019-06-06
- Earliest claimed: 2013-01-11
- Assignees: Wright Medical Technology, Inc.
- Applicants: Wright Medical Technology, Inc.
- Inventors: Brent A. PONCE; John WHITCOMB
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190167321A1

## CPC

- A61B 17/8061: {specially adapted for particular bones (A61B17/70 and A61B17/74 take precedence)}
- A61B 17/1739: {specially adapted for particular parts of the body}
- A61B 17/8019: {where the means are a separate tool rather than being part of the plate}
- A61B 17/8042: {the additional component being a cover over the screw head}
- 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 17/8866: {for gripping or pushing bones, e.g. approximators (joint distractors A61B17/025)}
- A61B 17/1778: {for the shoulder}
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)

## Abstract

A fixation device is disclosed for the fixation of proximal humerus fractures includes an implantable humerus plate having a proximal portion adapted to be positioned at a head and medial calcar of the humerus, a distal portion adapted to be positioned along a shaft of the humerus, and a plurality of calcar openings provided through the proximal portion adapted to receive calcar fasteners that extend into the medial calcar. The calcar fasteners are grouped into a rafted configuration and the tips of each fastener are positioned into the calcar region so that torsional forces bearing upon the calcar regions are distributed into the rafted fastener support, thereby avoiding varus collapse of the humerus head after fixation of the fracture.

## Claims

### Claim at position 1

-20. (canceled)

### Claim 21

An implantable humerus plate comprising:
a proximal portion adapted to be positioned at a head and medial calcar of the humerus, and adapted to receive at least one humeral head fastener;
a distal portion adapted to be positioned along a shaft of the humerus and that defines at least one additional aperture for receiving a respective fastener adapted to secure said distal portion to said humerus; and
a plurality of calcar openings provided through the proximal portion adapted to receive calcar fasteners that extend into the medial calcar, said calcar fasteners sized smaller than said humeral head fasteners and adapted for penetrating the calcar region of said humerus, wherein each said smaller fasteners are adapted to position their tips into the cortical portion of a calcar proximal a medial concave portion of said calcar, where said tips are adapted to be spaced from an exterior surface of said medial concave portion of said calcar such that said tips remain within said humerus bone.

### Claim 22 (depends on 21)

The humerus plate of claim 21, wherein the calcar openings comprise greater than two openings.

### Claim 23 (depends on 21)

The humerus plate of claim 21, wherein the calcar openings comprise six openings.

### Claim 24 (depends on 23)

The humerus plate of claim 23, wherein the calcar openings are provided in two generally parallel rows, each row having three openings.

### Claim 25 (depends on 21)

The humerus plate of claim 21, wherein the calcar openings are configured so that the calcar fasteners can only pass through the plate at a predetermined fixed angle.

### Claim 26 (depends on 21)

The humerus plate of claim 21, wherein the fixed angle is approximately 90 to 135 degrees with the horizontal direction.

### Claim 27 (depends on 21)

The humerus plate of claim 21, wherein the calcar openings are approximately 2 to 3 millimeters in diameter.

### Claim 28 (depends on 21)

The humerus plate of claim 21, wherein the proximal portion further includes proximal openings adapted to receive proximal fasteners that extend into the humeral head, the proximal openings being larger than the calcar openings.

### Claim 29 (depends on 28)

The humerus plate of claim 28, wherein the proximal portion further includes a drill guide opening adapted to mount another device to the humerus plate.

### Claim 30 (depends on 21)

The humerus plate of claim 21, wherein the distal portion comprises openings adapted to receive fasteners that extend into the humeral shaft.

### Claim 31 (depends on 21)

The humerus plate of claim 21, wherein the proximal portion is generally rectangular and includes lateral sides having notches adapted to receive tabs of another device that attaches to the humerus plate.

### Claim 32 (depends on 21)

The fixation system as recited in claim 21, wherein said smaller apertures positioned below said humeral head apertures are configured such that said smaller fasteners are formed into a single set.

### Claim 33 (depends on 32)

The fixation system as recited in claim 32, wherein each fastener in said single set of fasteners has a respective longitudinal axis, and the single set of fasteners are positioned so the longitudinal axes are parallel to one another.

### Claim 34 (depends on 33)

The fixation system as recited in claim 33, wherein said set of fasteners comprises an upper set of fasteners and a lower set, and wherein said upper set is adapted to penetrate a calcar area above said medial concave portion of said calcar and said lower set is adapted to penetrate a calcar area below said medial concave portion of said calcar.

### Claim 35 (depends on 32)

The fixation system as recited in claim 32, wherein said set of fasteners defines an angle of more than 20 degrees relative to a horizontal aspect line bisecting the humerus.

### Claim 36 (depends on 35)

The fixation system as recited in claim 35, wherein said set of fasteners comprises an upper set of fasteners and a lower set, and wherein said upper set is adapted to penetrate a calcar area above said medial concave portion of said calcar and said lower set is adapted to penetrate a calcar area below said medial concave portion of said calcar.

### Claim 37 (depends on 36)

The fixation system as recited in claim 36, wherein each fastener in said single set of fasteners has a respective longitudinal axis, and the single set of fasteners are positioned so the longitudinal axes are positioned parallel to one another.

### Claim 38 (depends on 37)

The fixation system as recited in claim 37, wherein said smaller apertures positioned below said humeral head apertures are configured into two crescent shaped rows of apertures such that said tips of said smaller calcar fasteners are adapted to be positioned to follow the natural curvature of the exterior of said humeral neck as it transitions into the inferior surface of said humeral head.

### Claim 39 (depends on 38)

The fixation system as recited in claim 38, wherein said calcar fasteners are screws.

### Claim 40 (depends on 38)

The fixation system as recited in claim 38, wherein said distal portion of said plate defines an extended slot.