# US 9,039,683 B2 · Bone fixation system

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- Number: US 9,039,683 B2
- Document ID: US9039683B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/078,188
- Filed: 2011-04-01
- Published: 2011-10-06
- Granted: 2015-05-26
- Earliest claimed: 2010-04-05
- Assignees: DePuy Synthes Products, Inc.
- Applicants: Reto Nardini; Robert Frigg
- Inventors: Reto Nardini; Robert Frigg
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9039683B2

## CPC

- A61B 18/18: by applying electromagnetic radiation, e.g. microwaves
- A61B 17/16: Instruments for performing osteoclasis; Drills or chisels for bones; Trepans {(arthroscopic bone cutters A61B17/320016)}
- A61B 17/1624: {Drive mechanisms therefor}
- A61B 17/68: Internal fixation devices {, including fasteners and spinal fixators, even if a part thereof projects from the skin (bone staples A61B17/0642)}
- A61B 17/7059: {Cortical plates (A61B17/7007, A61B17/7058 take precedence)}
- 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 17/84: Fasteners therefor {or fasteners being internal fixation devices}
- A61B 17/844: {with expandable anchors or anchors having movable parts}
- A61B 17/864: {hollow, e.g. with socket or cannulated}
- A61B 17/866: {Material or manufacture}
- A61B 17/8863: {Apparatus for shaping or cutting osteosynthesis equipment by medical personnel}
- A61B 17/8872: {Instruments for putting said fixation devices against or away from the bone (A61B17/7074, A61B17/808 take precedence)}
- A61B 18/04: by heating (by applying electromagnetic radiation A61B18/18)
- A61B 18/20: using laser
- A61B 18/28: for heating a thermal probe or absorber
- A61B 17/1617: {with mobile or detachable parts}
- A61B 17/1626: {Control means; Display units}
- A61B 17/1628: {Motors; Power supplies}
- A61B 17/1633: {Sleeves, i.e. non-rotating parts surrounding the bit shaft, e.g. the sleeve forming a single unit with the bit shaft (A61B17/1644 takes precedence)}
- A61B 17/8685: {comprising multiple separate parts}
- A61B 2017/00004: {(bio)absorbable, (bio)resorbable or resorptive}
- A61B 2017/00039: {Electric or electromagnetic phenomena other than conductivity, e.g. capacity, inductivity, Hall effect}
- A61B 2017/00106: {ultrasonic}
- A61B 2017/00371: {Multiple actuation, e.g. pushing of two buttons, or two working tips becoming operational}
- A61B 2017/00389: {Button or wheel for performing multiple functions, e.g. rotation of shaft and end effector}
- A61B 2017/1651: {for cooling}
- A61B 2018/00029: {open}
- A61B 2018/00178: {Electrical connectors}
- A61B 2018/00565: {Bone}
- A61B 2018/00601: {Cutting}
- A61B 2018/00994: {combining two or more different kinds of non-mechanical energy or combining one or more non-mechanical energies with ultrasound}
- A61B 2018/207: {mixing two wavelengths}
- A61B 2018/2285: {with removable, replacable, or exchangable tips}
- A61B 2217/005: with suction drainage system
- A61B 2217/007: with irrigation system
- A61B 2218/002: Irrigation
- Y10T 428/28: Web or sheet containing structurally defined element or component and having an adhesive outermost layer
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

A bone fixation system is provided. The bone fixation system may include a plate, one or more fasteners configured to attach the plate to a target anatomical location such as bone, and a surgical device that facilitates the attachment of the plate and the fasteners.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A surgical fastener configured to be placed into a distal tip of a hand piece that is connected to a control unit capable of supplying electromagnetic radiation by way of laser through the hand piece, the surgical fastener comprising:
a surgical fastener body that defines a proximal end and a distal end that is spaced from the proximal end along a longitudinal axis, the surgical fastener body including a first portion that at least partially defines the proximal end and a second portion that at least partially defines the distal end, the surgical fastener body further defining a bore that extends completely through the surgical fastener body along the longitudinal axis from the proximal end to the distal end, the bore being configured to receive a cutting mechanism such that the cutting mechanism is extendable through the surgical fastener body along the longitudinal axis;
wherein the first portion of the surgical fastener body is transmissive to electromagnetic radiation and the second portion of the surgical fastener body is absorptive to electromagnetic radiation, such that upon absorbing electromagnetic radiation, the second portion of the surgical fastener body softens and is capable of deforming.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The surgical fastener according claim 1, wherein the surgical fastener body further includes an external surface that defines an outer diameter, and the bore includes an inner surface that defines an inner diameter.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The surgical fastener according to claim 2, wherein the first portion of the surgical fastener body is a core portion that defines the internal surface, and the second portion is a peripheral portion that defines the outer surface.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The surgical fastener according to claim 1, wherein the first portion is a core that defines an internal surface of the surgical fastener body and the second portion is disposed adjacent the core such that the second portion defines an external surface of the surgical fastener body, the internal surface defining the bore.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The surgical fastener according to claim 4, wherein the second portion is adjacent the first portion along a direction that is substantially perpendicular with respect to the longitudinal axis.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The surgical fastener according to claim 1, wherein the surgical fastener body defines a proximal end and a distal end spaced from the proximal end along the longitudinal axis, the proximal end is configured to attach to a surgical device that emits an energy source, and the first portion is disposed proximally with respect to the second portion.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The surgical fastener according to claim 6, wherein the first and second portions are aligned with respect to a direction that extends substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The surgical fastener according to claim 1, wherein the surgical fastener body is substantially tubular.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The surgical fastener according to claim 1, wherein the electromagnetic radiation has a wave length in the range of 400 nm to 1800 nm.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The surgical fastener according to claim 1, wherein the electromagnetic radiation has a frequency in the range of 1 kHz to 1 MHz.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The surgical fastener according to claim 1, wherein the electromagnetic radiation has a frequency in the range of 100 kHz to 100 GHz.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The surgical fastener according to claim 1, wherein the second portion of the surgical fastener body has a color sufficient to absorb electromagnetic radiation so as to cause the second portion of the surgical fastener body to soften in response to the electromagnetic radiation.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The surgical fastener according to claim 12, wherein the color has a wavelength between 400 nm and 1800 nm.

### Claim 14 (depends on 12)

The surgical fastener according to claim 12, wherein the color of the second portion of the surgical fastener body comprises at least one of D&C blue 9 and indocyanine green.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The surgical fastener according to claim 1, wherein the second portion of the surgical fastener body comprises a thermoplastic and a laser-absorptive additive to the thermoplastic.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

The surgical fastener according to claim 1, further comprising at least one irrigation channel that extends through the surgical fastener body in the direction of the longitudinal axis, the irrigation channel configured to receive and carry an irrigation fluid.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The surgical fastener according to claim 16, wherein the irrigation channel is open to the bore.

### Claim 18 (depends on 16)

The surgical fastener according to claim 16, wherein the irrigation channel extends into the first portion of the surgical fastener body.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The surgical fastener according to claim 18, wherein the irrigation channel further extends into the second portion of the surgical fastener body.

### Claim 20 (depends on 2)

The surgical fastener according to claim 2, further comprising at least one closed passage that extends through the surgical fastener body in the direction of the longitudinal axis between the internal surface and the external surface, the closed passage configured to receive and carry an irrigation fluid.

### Claim 21 (depends on 20)

The surgical fastener according to claim 20, wherein the closed passage extends through the first portion of the surgical fastener body.

### Claim 22 (depends on 20)

The surgical fastener according to claim 20, wherein the closed passage extends through the second portion of the surgical fastener body.

### Claim 23 (depends on 1)

The surgical fastener according to claim 1, wherein the surgical fastener body is made of a thermoplastic material comprising at least one of a poly-alpha-hydroxyester, polyorthoester, polyanhydride, polyphosphazenes, poly(propylenefumarate), polyesteramide, polyethylenefumarate, polylactide, polyglycolide, polycaprolacton, trimethylenecarbonate, polydioxanone, and polyhydrobutyrate, as well as their copolymers and mixtures.