Bone fixation plate

Abstract

The present invention provides an osteosynthesis plate for fixing bone fragments in the repair of bone, particularly the mandible. [Solution] The plate body P comprises a plate body having at least one bridge portion BU used to bridge a gap S extending between bone fragments K1, the plate body comprising fixing portions BA1, BA2 each associated with at least one fixing point, at least one fixing point BP1, BP2 of the fixing portions formed on an island portion IA, the island portion being connected to each associated fixing portion only via spring segments FS1, FS2 which allow elastically restorable relative displacement between each fixing portion and each island portion, at least one of the spring segments causing relative displacement between the island portion and the associated fixing portion when a load is applied in the principal loading direction of the bone, and increasing the distance between the island portion and at least one bridge portion.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an osteosynthesis plate provided for fixing bone fragments for the repair of bone, particularly the mandible, which includes a plate body having an upper surface and a lower surface for placing the plate body on the bone fragment. The plate body has at least one bridge portion for bridging the associated gap extending between the bone fragments, and the plate body is provided with fixing portions located on both sides of at least one bridge portion. The osteosynthesis plate should be fixed to the bone fragment by the fixing portions on its lower surface. For this purpose, at least one fixing point is associated with each fixing portion, and at least one fixing point of at least one of the fixing portions is formed on each respective island portion. The island portion is connected to the respective associated fixing portion only through a spring segment, and the spring segment allows an elastically recoverable relative displacement between the respective fixing portion and the respective island portion.

Background Art

[0002] In osteosynthesis, two or more bone fragments are connected to each other within the framework of a surgical procedure in order for the bone fragments to grow together and thus achieve bone repair. The purpose of osteosynthesis is to stabilize the bone fragments relative to each other, and this stabilization is carried out at the correct position and thus optionally while correcting displacement. In addition to fixation using wires or screws, osteosynthesis plates are also used depending on the application area, and each osteosynthesis plate is placed on each bone in the area of each gap between the bone fragments and fixed to each of the bone fragments so as to be connected to each other.

[0003] In addition to stabilizing the bone fragments after a fracture, osteosynthesis plates are also partially used when bone segments removed at other locations are used in existing bone defects and stabilized for bone repair. Such defects can occur, for example, because it is necessary to remove a part of the bone after a tumor disease.

[0004] Regarding the bone healing process, it has been found that it is preferable for the bone fragments to be repaired not to be rigidly connected to each other via a bone fixation plate, but rather for micro-movements of the bone fragments relative to each other via the bone fixation plate. To enable these micro-movements, the fixation point is connected to at least one of the bone fragments to be connected via a spring segment.

[0005] International Publication No. 2023 / 057477 describes a plate implant for bridging fracture spaces, which has a longitudinal axis in the direction of the maximum extent of the plate implant and several bores spaced apart from each other in the direction of the longitudinal axis. An elastic longitudinal extender element is present between at least two bores. The longitudinal extender element is designed so that the plate implant has increased extensibility in the direction of the longitudinal axis, while also having high flexural strength and torsional rigidity. As a result, some longitudinal movement in the fracture space is possible to stimulate bone healing. [Overview of the project]

[0006] Building upon the prior art described above, the problem addressed by the present invention is to provide a bone fixation plate in which the bone healing process is further improved during use for bone repair.

[0007] This problem is resolved based on the preamble of claim 1 in combination with its feature portion. Each subsequent dependent claim reflects a preferred evolution of the invention. Further preferred embodiments can be gathered from the specification and drawings.

[0008] According to the present invention, the bone fixation plate includes a plate body having an upper surface and a lower surface for positioning the plate body on a bone fragment. The plate body has at least one bridge portion used to bridge the associated gap extending between the bone fragments. Furthermore, the plate body includes fixing portions located on both sides of the at least one bridge portion, where the bone fixation plate is fixed to the bone fragment at its lower surface, and each of the fixing portions is associated with at least one fixing point for this purpose. At least one fixing point of at least one of the fixing portions is formed on an island portion connected to each associated fixing portion of the plate body only via a spring segment that allows for an elastically restorable relative displacement between the respective fixing portion and the respective island portion.

[0009] The bone fixation plate according to the present invention is provided for fixing bone fragments for bone repair. This bone repair can exist within the framework of the present invention such that bone fragments formed by a bone fracture are fixed to each other via the bone fixation plate according to the present invention. Thus, in this case, the bone fragments related to the bone being repaired are fixed and stabilized to each other via the bone fixation plate. However, bone repair can also be considered, within the scope of the meaning of the present invention, to mean that a bone defect is closed by a bone segment excised from another bone for this purpose. Thus, in this case, the bone is repaired from its own bone fragment and a bone fragment related to another bone. The bone fixation plate according to the present invention is then used to fix the bone segment in this case, closing the defect with at least one of the bone segments located on both sides. Most preferably, the bone fixation plate is provided for use in the region of the mandible (mandible) and can achieve repair either within the framework of a fracture or within the framework of closing a bone defect.

[0010] The bone fixation plate preferably comprises an elongated plate body, that is, a plate body that extends at least primarily in the longitudinal direction. The plate body may extend along this longitudinal axis or may be designed to extend along this longitudinal oriented trajectory.

[0011] The plate body has, in particular, an upper surface and a lower surface facing opposite directions on the plate body. When the bone fixation plate according to the present invention is used, the plate body is positioned on the bone fragment by the lower surface of the plate body. During this positioning, at least one gap extending between the bone fragments to be fixed is bridged by the plate body. For each of these bridges, the plate body has a bridge portion, and the fixing portions of the plate body are located on both sides of this bridge portion. At these fixing portions, when the bone fixation plate is used, each fixation to one of the bone fragments separated by at least one gap is carried out, and for that purpose, at least one fixing point is associated with each of the fixing portions. Preferably, each fixing point is formed by a through hole that can guide the associated bone screw. Fixation to each bone fragment is carried out by the associated bone screw.

[0012] In at least one of the fixing portions of the plate body, at least one provided fixing point is formed on an island portion, and the island portion is exclusively connected to the associated fixing portion only via a spring segment, and the spring segment connects each island portion to the associated fixing portion. These spring segments allow for an elastically restorable relative displacement between the associated fixing portion and the island portion, which, within the scope of the present invention, means that when a load is applied, the spring segment elastically deforms during the relative displacement that the island portion and the associated fixing portion experience relative to each other, and when the load is removed, it returns to its original shape as it returns to its initial position. Preferably, the spring segment is designed as a spring leg that extends at least largely in a straight line.

[0013] Preferably, the spring segment allows relative displacement between the island portion and the fixed portion substantially parallel to the upper and lower surfaces, and / or only in the longitudinal direction. This is because, due to the course of the plate body, the gap is also bridged in this direction, and relative displacement in this direction results in a change in the gap size, which has been found to be favorable with respect to the healing process of the bone being repaired.

[0014] Particularly preferably, each island portion protrudes from the lower surface of the plate body relative to the associated fixing portion, thereby fixing to the respective bone fragment, so that each island portion rests on the bone fragment, and at the same time, an open space exists between the bone fragment and the associated fixing portion. As a result, since the fixing portion is also placed on the bone fragment which is displaced relative to the fixing portion, it can be ensured that the relative displacement between the island portion and the fixing portion is not hindered by friction.

[0015] The bone fixation plate is preferably manufactured by an additive manufacturing process, preferably by a 3D printing process. The bone fixation plate is preferably made of titanium, titanium alloy, stainless steel, or a suitable polymer, such as polyetheretherketone (PEEK).

[0016] The present invention includes technical teachings that at least one of the spring segments is oriented such that when a load is applied in the principal loading direction of the bone, a relative displacement occurs between the island portion and the fixed portion associated with the island portion, and the distance between the island portion and at least one bridge portion increases during the relative displacement.

[0017] In other words, in each island section, at least one of the associated spring segments is positioned such that when the bone is loaded in the principal loading direction, a relative displacement of each island section occurs relative to each fixed section, and during the relative displacement, each island section moves away from its respective bridge section.

[0018] Such a design of bone fixation plates has the advantage that when the bone fixation plate is used and a load is applied to the bone in the primary loading direction, the gap bridged by the bridge between the bone segments also expands due to the increase in the distance between each island and bridge portion. This is because the relative displacement that induces the increase in distance also results in relative displacement of the bone segments connected to each other via the bone fixation plate, accompanied by an expansion of the intermediate gap. This expansion of the gap prevents the gap between bone segments from becoming zero, causing the bone segments to collide with each other and complicating the healing process of the bone being repaired. This also prevents the gap between bone segments from being too small or nonexistent when the excised bone segments are inserted into the bone defect to be repaired, if the excised bone segments are configured as a transition fit for the defect. In general, when bone fixation plates according to the present invention are used, micromovement between bone fragments is made possible, thereby stimulating the healing process of the bone being repaired.

[0019] Essential to the present invention is that at least one of the spring segments of the island portion is oriented such that when a load is applied to the bone in the principal loading direction, the gap to be bridged with the bridge portion expands. This is achieved by inducing a relative displacement of the island portion in the corresponding orientation with respect to the associated fixed portion.

[0020] Within the scope of the present invention, “a load is applied in the principal loading direction” of the bone is understood to mean, in particular, the action of forces on the bone when a load is applied to the bone in the usual manner. Preferably, this load is applied such that the resulting lateral force is induced at the relevant fixation point of the island portion. In the case of a preferred embodiment of an osteosynthesis plate for fixing bone fragments for mandibular restoration, the load in the principal loading direction is, in particular, the occlusal force to be supported via the mandible.

[0021] According to one possible embodiment of the present invention, at least one spring segment is oriented to expand distance such that it extends at an acute angle to each force vector representing the lateral force occurring at each fixing point of the associated island while a load acting laterally on the bone is applied to the associated fixing point. In this process, when a lateral force is introduced, at least one spring segment induces a conversion of the lateral force into a longitudinal force component, thereby resulting in a relative displacement of the island with respect to each fixing point, directed away from the associated bridge.

[0022] According to a further possible embodiment of the present invention, the island portion is connected to each fixing portion via two respective spring segments. Preferably, the island portion and the two associated spring segments are formed by two U-shaped notches, the openings of which face each other and are nested within each other at each fixing portion. Preferably, this allows for an integrated design of the island portion and associated spring segments with the plate body, and enables appropriate displacement of the island portion relative to each fixing portion. The U-shaped notches can be designed to have the same or different paths. If the plate body of the bone joint plate is manufactured by an additive manufacturing process, the through-openings may also be formed by this additive manufacturing process. However, alternatively, the through-openings can also be defined by grinding or material removal.

[0023] In further possible embodiments of the present invention, the spring segments extend symmetrically to each island portion, connecting each island portion to the plate body. Most preferably, the associated spring segments extend point-symmetrically with respect to each fixed point of each island portion. In particular, by combining this with a variation of the present invention in which the distance-increasing spring segment extends at an acute angle to the force vector, two point-symmetrically extending spring segments ensure that the force is converted to increase the distance.

[0024] Alternatively, or in the case of multiple island sections, in addition to the embodiments described above, the associated spring segments can extend asymmetrically with respect to each island section, connecting each island section to the plate body. As a result, adjacent island sections of each fixing section can be placed closer to each other, and / or fixing points provided at each end can be placed closer to each end of the fixing section, thereby increasing the number of fixing points of the fixing section. In the advanced form of the above-described modification, one of the associated spring segments can extend at least substantially laterally with respect to each fixing section when unloaded.

[0025] In combination with a variant of the present invention in which the spring segment increasing the distance extends at an acute angle with respect to the force vector, it is also conceivable within the framework of the present invention that the related spring segments extend at different acute angles with respect to their respective force vectors and branch toward at least one related bridge section.

[0026] Preferably, multiple fixing points are associated with each fixing part, and each fixing point is formed on each island part. In particular, in the case of multiple or all island parts with multiple fixing points, at least one of the associated spring segments is oriented such that the distance between the island part and the associated bridge part increases while a load is applied. As a result, multiple island parts can be combined to result in an expansion of the gap. Particularly preferably, the island parts are formed in a symmetrical arrangement on each fixing part, i.e., each island part is formed on each fixing part in the same manner in terms of their orientation and design.

[0027] According to another possible embodiment of the present invention, among the fixing parts located on both sides of at least one bridge part, at least one fixing point of one fixing part is formed on each island part, and at least one fixing point of each of the other fixing parts is fixed at a fixed position of the other fixing part. As a result, the fixing points of one fixing part are displaceable with respect to this fixing part, and the fixing points of the other fixing part are rigid.

[0028] Within the framework of the present invention, the fixing points can also be formed on the island parts on both sides of at least one bridge part. Therefore, relative displaceability of the fixing points is provided for both fixing parts. In a development of this embodiment, at least one of each associated spring segment in the island parts of the fixing parts arranged on both sides of the bridge part is oriented to increase the distance while a load is applied. Therefore, when a load is applied to the areas of both fixing parts, an expansion of the gap located between the bone fragments is brought about.

[0029] In a further variant of the present invention, the plate body has exactly one bridge part. Therefore, in this case, the plate body of the bone fixation plate is designed to fix two or more bone fragments to each other, thereby exactly bridging one gap. Alternatively, the plate body can have a plurality of bridge parts for bridging a plurality of gaps, and the fixing parts are provided on both sides of each bridge part. In this case, the bone fixation plate preferably has exactly two or more bridge parts, and thus three or more fixing parts, whereby three or more bone fragments can be fixed by the bone fixation plate for bone repair.

[0030] Preferred embodiments of the present invention described below are shown in the drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0031] [Figure 1A] It is a schematic view of a bone with a bone fixation plate according to an embodiment of the present invention fixed thereto. [Figure 1B]This is a schematic diagram of a bone to which a bone fixation plate according to one embodiment of the present invention has been fixed, shown in a different state from Figure 1A. [Figure 2A] This is a schematic diagram of a bone to which a bone fixation plate has been fixed according to a further possible embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2B] This is a schematic diagram of a bone to which a bone fixation plate is immobilized according to a further possible embodiment of the present invention, shown in a different state from Figure 2A. [Figure 3] This is a schematic diagram of a part of a bone fixation plate according to a further embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] This is a perspective view of a bone fixation plate according to a further possible embodiment of the present invention. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0032] Figures 1A and 1B show schematic diagrams of bone K to which a bone fixation plate OP is fixed, in which case bone K is preferably the mandible. The bone fixation plate OP should be fixed to bone fragments K1 and K2 in order to stabilize them relative to each other, thereby allowing bone fragments K1 and K2 to grow together for the repair of bone K.

[0033] In this case, bone fragments K1 and K2 may be formed as a result of a fracture of bone K, and the bone fixation plate OP is provided to heal this fracture by stabilizing bone fragments K1 and K2 relative to each other. Alternatively, one of bone fragments K1 and K2 may be used to close a defect in bone K, for example, because a portion of bone K had to be removed at this site due to a tumorous disease. Bone fragment K1 or K2 is a section of bone resected from another bone, for example, the fibula.

[0034] The bone fixation plate OP is preferably made of titanium or a titanium alloy and has an elongated plate body P manufactured in particular by an additive manufacturing process, preferably a 3D printing process. The plate body P has an upper surface OS, which can be seen in Figures 1A and 1B, and a lower surface, which is not visible and is located on the opposite side of the upper surface, on which the plate body P is placed on bone fragments K1 and K2.

[0035] The plate body P consists of two fixing sections BA1 and BA2, and a bridge section BU located between fixing sections BA1 and BA2. Fixation to the bone fragment K1 is performed at fixing section BA1 on the lower surface of the plate body P, and this fixation is achieved at fixing point BP1 associated with fixing section BA1. Fixing point BP1 is designed as a through-hole DO1 that extends between the upper surface OS and the lower surface and is used to guide the respective bone screws (not shown). The through-hole DO1 is fixed to fixing section BA1.

[0036] Adjacent to the fixation portion BA1, the plate body P has a bridge portion BU for bridging the gap S. The gap S is located between bone fragments K1 and K2. Adjacent to the bridge portion BU is a fixation portion BA2 to which the plate body P is fixed to bone fragment K2. For this purpose, the fixation portion BA2 has a fixation point BP2 associated with the fixation portion BA2. The fixation point BP2 is also designed as a through hole DO2 that extends between the upper surface OS and the lower surface and is used to guide the respective bone screws (not shown).

[0037] In contrast to the fixed part BA1, the through-hole DO2 of the fixed part BA2 is introduced into the island part IA, and the island part IA is isolated from the fixed part BA2 by connecting each individual island part IA to the fixed part BA2 only via spring segments FS1 and FS2. The spring segments FS1 and FS2 allow for an elastically restorable relative displacement of each island part IA with respect to the fixed part BA2, and therefore further, of the associated fixed point BP2.

[0038] The spring segments FS1 and FS2, and their respective associated island portions IA, are defined on the bone fixation plate OP via through-openings D1 and D2 of the plate body P, which are U-shaped and extend from the upper surface OS to the lower surface. The through-openings D1 and D2 are nested within each other, and their U-shaped openings face each other, thereby defining the spring segments FS1 and FS2 in addition to separating each island portion IA from the fixation portion BA2. The U-shapes of the through-openings D1 and D2 correspond to each other, and as a result, the paths of the spring segments FS1 and FS2 are linear and point-symmetric with respect to each other. To this end, each U-shape of the through-openings D1 and D2 has respective first legs S11 and S12 that extend outward at an angle to the respective base sides GS1 and GS2 of the U-shape, and the respective second legs S21 and S22 of the U-shape extend inward at an angle to the respective base sides GS1 and GS2.

[0039] Figure 1A shows bone K in an unloaded state, where spring segments FS1 and FS2 of each island IA set the initial position of each island IA, thereby resulting in a gap size SM1 between bone fragments K1 and K2. In contrast, Figure 1B shows bone K under load B, which is indicated by an arrow in Figure 1B and represents a typical load on bone K. In the case of a preferred embodiment of bone K as the mandible, this load B may be the occlusal force to be supported.

[0040] A special feature is that spring segments FS1 and FS2 extend at an acute angle with respect to the force vector KV, thereby representing the lateral force generated at each fixed point BP2 due to load B, which is indicated by the arrow in Figure 1B for one of the fixed points BP2. With respect to the force vector KV, in addition to these acute-angled paths shown by dashed lines in Figure 1B, spring segments FS1 and FS2 of each island IA also branch out and extend toward the bridge BU. As a result, when load B is introduced to bone segment K2, the forces in spring segments FS1 and FS2 deflect, causing island IA to move away from bridge BU, thus increasing the distance between island IA and bridge BU. This causes bone segments K1 and K2 to move away from each other, and therefore the gap S increases to gap size SM2.

[0041] When load B is no longer applied, the gap S decreases again to gap size SM1, and the spring segments FS1 and FS2 of each island IA elastically return to their original shapes, inducing corresponding return displacements. In general, the healing process of bone K is facilitated by the relative movement of bone fragments K1 and K2 relative to each other.

[0042] Furthermore, Figures 2A and 2B show schematic diagrams of bone K to which, in this case, the bone fixation plate OP' according to a further possible embodiment of the present invention is fixed. This bone fixation plate OP' substantially corresponds to the bone fixation plate OP of Figures 1A and 1B, and in contrast to the bone fixation plate OP, in this case an asymmetrically designed island portion IA' is formed on the fixing portion BA2 of the plate body P. This is achieved in that each island portion IA', as well as the further associated spring segments FS1' and FS2, are formed by through-openings D1' and D2', which are also U-shaped but differ from each other with respect to the respective U-shapes. The two U-shapes each have their respective first legs S11' and S12' extending laterally with respect to the respective base sides GS1 and GS2 of the U-shape, however, in the U-shape of through-opening D1', the second leg S21' extends outward at an angle with respect to the base side GS1, and in the U-shape of through-opening D2', the second leg S22' is angled inward. This results in linear and asymmetrical paths for the spring segments FS1' and FS2 relative to each fixed point BP2. Due to these asymmetrical paths, the island portions IA' provided on the fixed portion BA2 can be positioned closer together and further apart.

[0043] Each spring segment FS2 extends at an acute angle as in the embodiments shown in Figures 1A and 1B. However, the asymmetric design results in a nearly orthogonal path of spring segment FS1' relative to the fixed portion BA2, and thus, when load B is introduced, the nearly parallel path of spring segment FS1' with respect to the force vector KV results in the state shown in Figure 2B. Nevertheless, the orientation of spring segment FS2 with respect to the force vector KV causes displacement of island portion IA' relative to the fixed portion BA2, increasing the distance between island portion IA' and bridge portion BU.

[0044] For the remaining aspects, please refer to the descriptions of the embodiments shown in Figures 2A and 2B, as these correspond to the aforementioned modified forms shown in Figures 1A and 1B.

[0045] The gap sizes SM1, SM2, and the deflection of island IA in Figures 1A, 1B, 2A, and 2B are greatly exaggerated for better illustration. In actual applications of bone fusion plates OP, OP', smaller gap sizes are naturally used, and a typical load B on bone K results in a smaller deflection of island IA than shown in Figures 1B and 2B.

[0046] Figure 3 shows a schematic diagram of a part of the bone fixation plate OP” according to a further embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment substantially corresponds to the modified forms described above in Figures 2A and 2B, the difference being that the island portions IA' are defined to be inclined counterclockwise around an inclination angle on the illustrated fixing portion BA2 of the plate body P. This inclination causes each of the spring segments FS1' and FS2 to be oriented at an acute angle with respect to their respective force vectors (not shown here). The plate body P has an enlarged cross-section in the region of the island portions IA'. For the remainder, the embodiment in Figure 3 corresponds to the modified forms in Figures 2A and 2B, so please refer to their descriptions.

[0047] Furthermore, Figure 4 shows a perspective view of a bone fixation plate OP''' according to a further possible embodiment of the present invention. The difference from the modified form described above is that the plate body P' of this bone fixation plate OP''' has two bridge portions BU1 and BU2 for bridging the respective gaps (not shown in Figure 4). Thus, three bone fragments can be stabilized relative to each other using the bone fixation plate OP''' for bone repair. The bridge portions BU1 and BU2 are defined as interposed between fixation portions BA1', BA2', and BA3', respectively, which are used to fix their respective bone fragments. Fixation point BP3' is fixed in place on fixation portion BA3', while fixation points BP1' and BP2' on fixation portions BA1' and BA2' are defined on their respective island portions IA', which are designed similarly to the modified forms shown in Figures 2A and 2B. In this regard, please refer to the description of Figures 2A and 2B.

[0048] Embodiments of the present invention provide bone fixation plates that, during their use, reliably support the bone healing process in bone repair. [Explanation of symbols]

[0049] K...bone, OP, OP', OP'', OP'''...bone fixation plate, K1, K2...bone fragment, P, P'...plate body, OS...top surface, BA1, BA2, BA1', BA2', BA3'...fixation part, BU, BU1, BU2...bridge part, BP1, BP2, BP1', BP2', BP3'...fixation point, DO1, DO2...through hole, S...gap, IA, IA'...island part, FS1, FS2, FS1'...spring segment, D1, D2, D1', D2'...through opening, GS1, GS2...base side, S11, S21, S11', S21'...leg part, S12, S22, S12', S22'...leg part, SM1, SM2...gap size, B...load, KV...force vector.

Claims

1. A bone fixation plate (OP, OP', OP'', OP'''') provided for fixing bone fragments (K1, K2) for the repair of bone (K), particularly the mandible, comprising a plate body (P, P') having an upper surface (OS) and a lower surface for positioning the plate body (P, P') on the bone fragments (K1, K2), wherein the plate body (P, P') has at least one bridge portion (BU, BU1, BU2) used to bridge a gap (S) extending between the bone fragments (K1, K2), and the plate body (P, P The ') comprises fixing portions (BA1, BA2, BA1', BA2', BA3') located on both sides of the at least one bridge portion (BU, BU1, BU2), and the bone fixation plates (OP, OP', OP'', OP''') are fixed to the bone fragments (K1, K2) on the lower surface of the fixing portions (BA1, BA2, BA1', BA2', BA3'), and each of the fixing portions (BA1, BA2, BA1', BA2', BA3') is associated with at least one fixing point (BP1, BP2, BP1', BP2', BP3') for this purpose, and the fixing portion ( In at least one of BA1, BA2, BA1', BA2', BA3', the at least one fixed point (BP2, BP1', BP2') is formed in an island portion (IA, IA'), and the island portions (IA, IA') are connected to each of the associated fixed portions (BA2, BA1', BA2') only via spring segments (FS1, FS2, FS1', FS2) that allow for an elastically restorable relative displacement between each of the fixed portions (BA2, BA1', BA2') and each of the island portions (IA, IA'). The bone joint plate (OP, OP', OP'', OP'''') is characterized in that, when a load (B) is applied in the principal loading direction of the bone (K), at least one of the spring segments (FS1, FS2, FS1', FS2) is oriented such that a relative displacement occurs between the island portion (IA, IA') and the fixing portion (BA2, BA1', BA2') associated with the island portion (IA, IA'), and during the relative displacement, the distance between the island portion (IA, IA') and the at least one bridge portion (BU, BU1) increases.

2. The bone fixation plate (OP, OP', OP'', OP'''') according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one spring segment (FS1, FS2, FS2, FS1', FS2) is oriented at an acute angle with respect to a force vector (KV) representing a lateral force generated at the relevant fixing points (BP2, BP1', BP2') of the island portion (IA, IA') during the application of the load (B) to the bone (K) acting laterally with respect to each of the fixing portions (BA2, BA1', BA2').

3. The bone fixation plate (OP, OP', OP'', OP''') according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the island portions (IA, IA') are connected to the respective fixing portions (BA2, BA1', BA2') via two respective spring segments (FS1, FS2, FS1', FS2).

4. The bone fixation plate (OP, OP', OP'', OP'''') according to claim 3, characterized in that the island portion (IA, IA') and the two associated spring segments (FS1, FS2, FS1', FS2) are formed by two U-shaped through openings (D1, D2, D1', D2'), the openings of the through openings (D1, D2, D1', D2') face each other and are nested within the respective fixing portions (BA2, BA1', BA2').

5. The bone fixation plate (OP) according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the spring segments (FS1, FS2) extend symmetrically, particularly point-symmetrically with respect to each of the fixing points (BP2), and connect the island portion (IA) to each of the fixing portions (BA2).

6. The bone fixation plate (OP', OP'', OP''') according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the spring segments (FS1', FS2) extend asymmetrically and connect the island portion (IA') to the plate body (P, P').

7. The bone fixation plate (OP, OP', OP'', OP''') according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that each of the aforementioned fixing portions (BA2, BA1', BA2') has a plurality of associated fixing points (BP2, BP1', BP2'), and each of the fixing points (BP2, BP1', BP2') is formed on the respective island portion (IA, IA').

8. The bone fixation plate (OP, OP', OP'', OP''') according to claim 7, characterized in that at least one of the respective associated spring segments (FS1, FS2, FS2, FS1', FS2) in multiple or all island portions (IA, IA') of the plurality of fixed points (BP2, BP1', BP2') is oriented such that the distance increases during the application of the load (B).

9. The bone fixation plate (OP, OP') according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that, of the fixing portions (BA1, BA2) located on both sides of the at least one bridge portion (BU), at least one fixing point (BP2) of one fixing portion (BA2) is formed on the respective island portions (IA, IA'), while at least one fixing point (BP1) of the other fixing portion (BA1) is fixed in a fixed position on the other fixing portion (BA1).

10. The bone fixation plate (OP''') according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the fixation points (BP1', BP2) are formed on the island portion (IA') on both sides of the at least one bridge portion (BU1).

11. The bone joint plate (OP''') according to claim 10, characterized in that at least one of the respective associated spring segments (FS1', FS2) of the island portion (IA') of the fixing portion (BA1', BA2) arranged on both sides of the bridge portion (BU1) is oriented such that the distance increases during the application of the load (B).

12. The bone fixation plate (OP, OP', OP'') according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the plate body (P) has exactly one bridge portion (BU).

13. The bone fixation plate (OP''') according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the plate body (P') has a plurality of bridge portions (BU1, BU2) for bridging a plurality of gaps (S), and fixing portions (BA1', BA2', BA3') are provided on both sides of each of the bridge portions (BU1, BU2).

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