Compound bone structure of allograft tissue with threaded fasteners

Abstract

A composite allograft bone device comprising a first bone member body with a face that defines a plurality of spaced projections forming a pattern and a second bone member body defining a face that forms a plurality of spaced projections forming a second pattern. The projections in the first face allow the two bodies to be mated together. The mated bodies form a composite bone device which is provided with a throughgoing bore and a threaded rod member mounted in the throughgoing bore extending into and engaging the bone member bodies holding the same together. Alternatively a rod member with a demineralized or knurled outer surface can be press fit into the throughgoing bore engaging the bone member bodies in an interference fit holding the same together. In another embodiment an inner central cancellous bone block is surrounded by plates or a U shaped base constructed of cortical bone material.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09 / 196,251 filed Nov. 20, 1998 and issued into U.S. Letters Patent No. 6,025,538 on Feb. 15, 2000.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1. Field of Invention [0003] The present invention generally relates to allograft bone devices for surgical implantation into bone tissue and particularly to a composite allograft bone device constructed from two or more separate bone pieces made from allograft, autograft and xenograft bone tissue that can be fastened together to have dimensions that are larger than the dimensions of naturally occurring bone suitable for implantation in a surgical site. [0004] 2. Description of the Prior Art [0005] Allograft bone tissue is widely used in orthopedic, neuro-, maxillofacial, podiatric and dental surgery. Allograft tissue is valuable in these fields of surgery because it is strong and it biointegrates well over time with the recipient patient's tissue. Allograft ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention is about a way to create a larger structure out of smaller pieces of bone tissue. This is useful for creating implants that can support a person's weight while they heal. The invention involves combining two or more smaller pieces of bone to form a compound bone structure, which can be shaped to fit the needs of a patient. The compound bone structure is held together by fasteners that are placed through the bone segments. The invention also involves using partially demineralized bone rods to promote bone growth and hold the structure together. Overall, the invention allows for the creation of a larger, implantable structure than what is found in nature.

Problems solved by technology

Unfortunately because of the size limitation of the bone material only devices of a certain size could be constructed.

Cortical bone has one serious limitation that plastics and metal do not have.

Bone parts and bone products made from allograft cortical tissue are limited in size, dimension and shape because of the anatomical limits on the thickness and length of the source bone.

The length of the cortical tissue is also naturally limited by the size and the weight of the allograft tissue donor.

Shaped implants made from these other long bones are also necessarily limited in dimension.

Many medical problems and surgical procedures require implants larger than have previously been made out of allograft cortical tissue.

Second, the compound structure of the implant must hold together during the post-operative period during which the allograft tissue is resorbed and remodeled.

There are relatively few devices used in bone repair constructed of allograft bone because of the difficulty in obtaining and shaping the material and the natural limits placed on the size of the device based on the constraints of the sizes of the natural bone which can be shaped to form devices of a larger required size.

However, all of these bone structures are limited to the size and shape of the original material.

Until now, the only way that separate bone pieces could be joined together to arrive at a larger device has been to tongue and groove the respective pieces which creates shearing areas and limits the use to which such constructed device could be used.

This is a significant problem where a device is placed under stress and shearing forces as for example where it is hammered into place between vertebrae or into other bone areas.

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