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US-20260123968-A1 - DEVICES AND METHODS FOR BONE DISTRACTION, COMPRESSION, & ROTATION

US20260123968A1US 20260123968 A1US20260123968 A1US 20260123968A1US-20260123968-A1

Abstract

Provided herein are methods and systems for the compression and/or distraction of a bone fracture. The system includes a rod configured to be at least partially inserted into the bone and a body defining a bore configured to circumscribe a portion of the rod. The system further includes a device with a first member and a second member joined at a fulcrum. The first member includes a channel for receiving a portion of the rod. The bone fracture compression or distraction includes inserting the rod into the bone, placing the first member of the device over the rod, positioning the second member of the device into a feature of a bone plate, and moving the first member and the second member toward each other.

Inventors

  • Brayden Reiland
  • Brian Conley
  • Caleb Martin

Assignees

  • ACUMED LLC

Dates

Publication Date
20260507
Application Date
20251106

Claims (20)

  1. 1 . A system for at least one of distraction, compression, or rotation of a bone fracture, the system comprising: a rod configured to be partially inserted into a bone; a body defining a bore configured to circumscribe a portion of the rod not inserted into the bone; and a first member and a second member joined at a fulcrum, wherein the first member defines a channel for receiving another portion of the rod not inserted into the bone.
  2. 2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the rod comprises a first portion with a first diameter and a second portion with a second diameter, and wherein the first diameter is greater than the second diameter.
  3. 3 . The system of claim 2 , wherein at least one of the first and second portions of the rod comprise a thread.
  4. 4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the bore of the body comprises a thread, and wherein the thread of the bore is configured to engage with a thread of the rod such that rotation of the body causes the body to translate axially along the rod.
  5. 5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first member and the second member each comprise a first end portion on one side of the fulcrum and a second end portion on another side of the fulcrum, wherein the first end portion comprises a handle, and wherein movement of the first end portions together cause the second end portions to move away from each other.
  6. 6 . The system of claim 5 , wherein the first end portions are in a plane at an angle relative to a plane of the second end portions.
  7. 7 . The system of claim 5 , wherein the first end portions are in a same plane as the second end portions.
  8. 8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the rod comprises a first end portion and a second end portion, wherein the first end portion is configured to be inserted into the bone and wherein the second end portion comprises a driver interface.
  9. 9 . The system of claim 1 , wherein one of the first member or the second member comprises a ratcheting element and wherein another member of the first member and the second member comprises a ridge, and wherein movement of the one member towards the other member causes the ridge to translate along the ratcheting element to hold the first member and the second member in position relative to each other.
  10. 10 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the ratcheting element comprises one or more markings indicative of an amount of distraction or compression.
  11. 11 . The system of claim 1 , wherein an end portion of the second member comprises a taper.
  12. 12 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the end portion of the second member further comprises one or more ridges.
  13. 13 . The system of claim 1 , wherein a length of the second member is greater than a length of the first member.
  14. 14 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a bone plate and at least one fastener.
  15. 15 . A method of at least one of compressing, distracting, or rotating a bone fracture using a system, the system comprising: a rod configured to be partially inserted into any bone; a first member and a second member joined at a fulcrum, wherein the first member defines a channel for receiving at least a portion of the rod not inserted into any bone; and a bone plate comprising one or more apertures, wherein the method comprises: inserting a fastener through one of the one or more apertures of the bone plate into a first bone or a second bone; inserting the rod into the first bone or a third bone; placing the first member over the rod; positioning the second member into a feature of the bone plate; moving the first member and the second member toward each other to compress or distract the bone fracture; and maintaining alignment after compressing or distracting the bone fracture while removing the rod from the first bone or the third bone.
  16. 16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the feature of the bone plate is selected from the group consisting of a bump, a blind hole, and one aperture of the one or more apertures of the bone plate.
  17. 17 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the rod is inserted into the first bone or the third bone via an additional aperture of the bone plate.
  18. 18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the additional aperture comprises a slot.
  19. 19 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the rod is inserted into the first bone away from the bone plate.
  20. 20 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the feature is proximal or distal to where the rod is inserted and wherein moving the first member and the second member together compresses or distracts the bone fracture.

Description

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE TO ANY PRIORITY APPLICATIONS This application claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Ser. No. 63/717,608, filed Nov. 7, 2024 and entitled “DEVICE AND METHOD FOR BONE DISTRACTION AND COMPRESSION,” the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference and made part of this specification as if set forth fully herein in its entirety. Any and all applications for which a foreign or domestic priority claim is identified in the Application Data Sheet as filed with the present application are hereby incorporated by reference under 37 CFR 1.57. BACKGROUND Field The present disclosure provides systems and methods for aligning a fracture that prevents drawbacks associated with current methods. Description of the Related Art After a bone fracture, bone fragments may require realignment to ensure the correct positioning for healing. Typically, for proper alignment, a bone plate is secured on the bone or bones to hold the fracture in place while healing. The plate may extend over multiple bone fragment of the same bone or multiple bones around a joint or joints (e.g., a wrist spanning plate to address distal radius fractures). Alignment of the bone fracture may include compression, distraction, or rotation of the bone fracture. Compression includes moving the bone fragments toward each other while distraction includes moving the bone fragments away from each other, such as to restore the length of the bone. SUMMARY The present disclosure provides new and innovative devices, systems, and methods for aligning a bone fracture that avoids problems associated with the current solutions, such as the screw for distraction/compression being too long initially and needing to be shortened, possibility of damaging and stripping of a screw inserted into the bone plate or damage to the bone around the screw, and/or tendency for the bone distractor device to disengage from the screw during use. The devices, systems, and methods disclosed herein can additionally be used for more diverse types of fracture fixation, such as wrist spanning, etc. Alignment of the bone fracture as disclosed herein may include compression, distraction, or rotation of the bone fracture. Compression includes moving the bone fragments toward each other while distraction includes moving the bone fragments away from each other, such as to restore the length of the bone. Alignment of bone fracture as disclosed herein may alternatively or additionally include stretching of soft tissue such as but not limited to ligaments (e.g., between multiple bones), which may or may not involve moving of the bone fragments relative to each other. Current compression and distraction tools may have a plier design including a first handle and a second handle connected at a fulcrum. The first handle may include a channel for a driver to extend therethrough. The driver can engage a head of a screw inserted into the bone via an aperture of a bone plate. The second handle may extend to a tip that can engage another aperture of the bone plate. Pivotal movements of the two handles at the fulcrum can result in compression or distraction of the bone fragments over which the plate extends. The screw that is used for compression/distraction needs to be of sufficient length, e.g., a screw that can achieve bicortical purchase when unlocked to the plate, to have a secure grip or hold in the bone to allow the force from the tool to be transmitted to the bone fragment or bone to result in compression, distraction, and/or rotation. However, to achieve bicortical purchase when the screw is unlocked, a user may tend to over-size the screw (e.g., choosing a longer screw) used for distraction/compression. The screw may be too long when locked into the plate and may then need to be shortened (e.g., by being replaced with a shorter screw). As a result, in some implementations, a user of the current compression and distraction tool may need to first insert a temporary screw (e.g., a longer screw) to effect the alignment of the fracture, remove the temporary screw while maintaining the alignment (which can be difficult), and insert a permanent screw (e.g., a shorter screw). A challenge of the current compression and distraction tools engaging the temporary screw is possible stripping and damaging of the screw. In some implementations, it can be difficult to remove the temporary screw if the screw was stripped or damaged. Bone and other tissue around the bone may also be at risk of damage during engagement between the tool and the temporary screw and/or during removal of the temporary screw. Another challenge is the tendency for the driver of the current compression and distraction tool to disengage from the screw head, such as when a non-axial or side load is applied. It can be inconvenient and time-consuming if the user needs to re-engage the screw during use. The disengagement of the screw from the driver can also make it more prone to damage or strip the screw. Yet another