Bone fusion apparatus and method

A bone fusion system for precisely positioning and affixing a bone fusion apparatus to a plurality of bones, said bone fusion system comprising:

• (a) an annular plate having an outer side for at least partially contacting bone and an opposite inner side, and said plate having a top outer edge of greatest diameter and a smaller diameter, bottom inner edge which defines an at least substantially central opening through said plate;
• (b) said plate being substantially conical in shape such that said plate tapers outwardly from said inner edge of said plate to said outer edge of said plate;
• (c) said plate defining a plurality of holes therethrough between said inner edge and said outer edge, each of said holes adapted for receiving a bone fastener for attaching said plate to a plurality of bones;
• and
• (d) a bone burr for burring away bone in preparation for positioning and affixing said plate, said bone burr being substantially cone-shaped and being threaded on its outer side for burring away bone, and said bone burr having an outer configuration at least generally matching that of said outer side of said plate such that said bone burr can be easily used to burr away bone to create a burred away location in a desired area of bones, and wherein said plate can subsequently be placed and affixed in position in the burred away location.

A method of affixing a bone fusion apparatus, said method comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing a bone fusion apparatus comprising:
• (i) an annular plate having an outer side for at least partially contacting bone and an opposite inner side, and said plate having a top outer edge of greatest diameter and a smaller diameter, bottom inner edge which defines an at least substantially central opening through said plate;
• (ii) said plate being substantially conical in shape such that said plate tapers outwardly from said inner edge of said plate to said outer edge of said plate;
• and
• (iii) said plate defining a plurality of holes therethrough between said inner edge and said outer edge, each of said holes adapted for receiving a bone fastener for attaching said plate to bone;
• (b) positioning said bone fusion apparatus over a desired bone area;
• and
• (c) affixing said bone fusion apparatus to one or more bones of said bone area wherein said bone fusion apparatus causes radial compression of the one or more bones to which said bone fusion apparatus is affixed.

A method of affixing a bone fusion apparatus, said method comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing a bone fusion system comprising:
• (i) an annular plate having an outer side for at least partially contacting bone and an opposite inner side, and said plate having a top outer edge of greatest diameter and a smaller diameter, bottom inner edge which defines an at least substantially central opening through said plate;
• (ii) said plate being substantially conical in shape such that said plate tapers outwardly from said inner edge of said plate to said outer edge of said plate;
• (iii) said plate defining a plurality of holes therethrough between said inner edge and said outer edge, each of said holes adapted for receiving a bone fastener for attaching said plate to bone;
• and
• (iv) a bone burr for burring away bone in preparation for positioning and affixing said plate, said bone burr being substantially cone-shaped and being threaded on its outer side for burring away bone and said bone burr having an outer configuration at least generally matching that of said outer side of said plate such that said bone burr can be easily used to burr away bone in a desired area to create a burred away location, and wherein said plate can subsequently be placed in the burred away location and affixed there in position;
• (b) burring away bone using said bone burr to create a burred away area in a desired location for positioning and affixing said plate;
• (c) positioning said plate at least partially in said burred away area with said outer side of said plate positioned adjacent or in contact with one or more bones;
• and
• (d) affixing said plate in position while said plate is positioned at least partially in said burred away area by fastening bone screws to said one or more bones through one or more of said holes of said plate.

A method of affixing a bone fusion apparatus for wrist fusion, said method comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing a bone fusion system comprising:
• (i) an annular plate having an outer side for at least partially contacting bone and an opposite inner side, and said plate having a top outer edge of greatest diameter and a smaller diameter, bottom inner edge which defines an at least substantially central opening through said plate;
• (ii) said plate being substantially conical in shape such that said plate tapers outwardly from said inner edge of said plate to said outer edge of said plate;
• (iii) said plate defining a plurality of holes therethrough between said inner edge and said outer edge, each of said holes adapted for receiving a bone fastener for attaching said plate to bone;
• and
• (iv) a bone burr for burring away bone in preparation for positioning and affixing said plate, said bone burr being substantially cone-shaped and being threaded on its outer side for burring away bone and said bone burr having an outer configuration at least generally matching that of said outer side of said plate such that said bone burr can be easily used to burr away bone in a desired area to create a burred away location, and wherein said plate can subsequently be placed in the burred away location and affixed there in position;
• (b) burring away bone using said bone burr to create a burred away area in a carpus area of a wrist for positioning and affixing said plate;
• (c) positioning said plate at least partially in said burred away area with said at least one of said holes of said plate being in simultaneous alignment for attachment of a bone fastener to a lunate bone, a triquetrium bone, a hamate bone, and a capitate bone of the carpus area;
• and
• (d) affixing said plate in position while said plate is positioned at least partially in said burred away area by fastening bone screws to said lunate bone, triquetrium bone, hamate bone, and capitate bone through one or more of said holes of said plate.