Method and apparatus for fixation of bone during surgical procedures

Claim 1

An apparatus for fixation of bone during surgical procedures using at least one bone screw, said apparatus comprising: a body member defining a plane which is operable to cover at least a portion of the bone; at least one attachment member which is operable to be secured to the bone, said at least one attachment member including means for receiving the at least one bone screw and securing said at least one attachment member to the bone upon receipt of the at least one bone screw; and at least one extension member mechanically communicating with said body member and a respective one of said at least one attachment member, a distal end of said at least one extension member being operable to be displaced generally radially with respect to said body member within the plane of the body member whereby by varying the displacement of said extension member with respect to said body member, said at least one attachment member may be secured to the bone by the at least one bone screw at a plurality of different positions with respect to said body member.

Claim 2

An apparatus for fixation of bone during surgical procedures using at least one bone screw, said apparatus comprising: a body member defining a plane which is operable to cover at least a portion of the bone; at least one attachment member which is operable to be secured to the bone, said at least one attachment member including means for receiving the at least one bone screw and securing said at least one attachment member to the bone upon receipt of the at least one bone screw; and at least one extension member mechanically communicating with said body member and a respective one of said at least one attachment member, a distal end of said at least one extension member being operable to be displaced generally radially with respect to said body member within the plane of the body member whereby by varying the displacement of said extension member with respect to said body member, said at least one attachment member may be secured to the bone by the at least one bone screw at a plurality of different positions with respect to said body member.

Claim 10

A method for fixating bone during surgical procedures using a bone screw, said method comprising the steps of: forming an apparatus for fixation of the bone, said apparatus including: (a) a body member defining a plane which is operable to cover at least a portion of the bone, (b) at least one attachment member which is operable to be secured to the bone, said at least one attachment member including means for receiving the bone screw and securing said at least one attachment member to the bone upon receipt of the bone screw, and (c) at least one extension member mechanically communicating with a respective one of said body member and said at least one attachment member, a distal end of said at least one extension member being operable to be displaced generally radially with respect to said body member within the plane of the body member determining a desired position of said body member with respect to the bone; determining a desired position of the bone screw with respect to the bone; displacing said extension member with respect to said body member in response to said step of determining the desired position of said body member and said step of determining the desired position of the bone screw; and securing said apparatus to the bone by causing the bone screw to engage said at least one attachment member and the bone.

Claim 11

A method for fixating bone during surgical procedures using a bone screw, said method comprising the steps of: forming an apparatus for fixation of the bone, said apparatus including: (a) a body member defining a plane which is operable to cover at least a portion of the bone, (b) at least one attachment member which is operable to be secured to the bone, said at least one attachment member including means for receiving the bone screw and securing said at least one attachment member to the bone upon receipt of the bone screw, and (c) at least one extension member mechanically communicating with a respective one of said body member and said at least one attachment member, a distal end of said at least one extension member being operable to be displaced generally radially with respect to said body member within the plane of the body member determining a desired position of said body member with respect to the bone; determining a desired position of the bone screw with respect to the bone; displacing said extension member with respect to said body member in response to said step of determining the desired position of said body member and said step of determining the desired position of the bone screw; and securing said apparatus to the bone by causing the bone screw to engage said at least one attachment member and the bone.

Claim 17

An apparatus for fixation of bone during surgical procedures which is operable to cover a burr hole formed in said bone, said apparatus being further operable to be secured to said bone using a plurality of bone screws, said apparatus comprising: a body member which is operable to cover said burr hole; a plurality of attachment members extending radially from said body member which are operable to be secured to the bone, each of said attachment members including means for receiving one of the bone screws so as to secure said attachment members to said bone; a plurality of latch portions which mechanically communicate with said extension members, said latch portions being operable to selectively allow said extension members to be displaced with respect to said body member; and a plurality of elongated flow passages disposed on said body member, said plurality of elongated flow passages being disposed concentrically with respect to the center of said body member, whereby said body member is operable to be secured to the bone in a position covering said burr hole and fluid flowing proximate to the bone is operable to flow through said body member.

Claim 18

An apparatus for fixation of bone during surgical procedures which is operable to cover a burr hole formed in said bone, said apparatus being further operable to be secured to said bone using a plurality of bone screws, said apparatus comprising: a body member which is operable to cover said burr hole; a plurality of attachment members extending radially from said body member which are operable to be secured to the bone, each of said attachment members including means for receiving one of the bone screws so as to secure said attachment members to said bone; a plurality of latch portions which mechanically communicate with said extension members, said latch portions being operable to selectively allow said extension members to be displaced with respect to said body member; and a plurality of elongated flow passages disposed on said body member, said plurality of elongated flow passages being disposed concentrically with respect to the center of said body member, whereby said body member is operable to be secured to the bone in a position covering said burr hole and fluid flowing proximate to the bone is operable to flow through said body member.

Claim 24

An apparatus for fixation of bone during surgical procedures using at least one bone screw, said apparatus comprising: a body member defining a generally planar surface which is operable to cover at least a portion of the bone; at least one attachment member which is operable to be secured to the bone, the at least one attachment member including means for receiving the at least one bone screw and securing said at least one attachment member to the bone upon receipt of the at least one bone screw; and at least one extension member mechanically communicating with said body member and a respective one of said at least one attachment member, a distal end of said at least one extension member being operable to be displaced generally radially with respect to said body member within the plane of the body member, said body member including a latch portion which is operable to selectively allow said extension member to be displaced with respect to said body member, whereby by varying the displacement of said extension member with respect to said body member, said at least one attachment member may be secured to the bone by the at least one bone screw at a plurality of different positions with respect to said body member.

Claim 25

An apparatus for fixation of bone during surgical procedures using at least one bone screw, said apparatus comprising: a body member defining a generally planar surface which is operable to cover at least a portion of the bone; at least one attachment member which is operable to be secured to the bone, the at least one attachment member including means for receiving the at least one bone screw and securing said at least one attachment member to the bone upon receipt of the at least one bone screw; and at least one extension member mechanically communicating with said body member and a respective one of said at least one attachment member, a distal end of said at least one extension member being operable to be displaced generally radially with respect to said body member within the plane of the body member, said body member including a latch portion which is operable to selectively allow said extension member to be displaced with respect to said body member, whereby by varying the displacement of said extension member with respect to said body member, said at least one attachment member may be secured to the bone by the at least one bone screw at a plurality of different positions with respect to said body member.

Claim 26

An apparatus for fixation of bone during surgical procedures using at least one bone screw, said apparatus comprising: a body member which is operable to cover at least a portion of the bone; at least one attachment member which is operable to be secured to the bone, said at least one attachment member including means for receiving the at least one bone screw and securing said at least one attachment member to the bone upon receipt of the at least one bone screw; and at least one extension member mechanically communicating with said body member and a respective one of said at least one attachment member, said at least one extension member being operable to be positioned with respect to said body member, said body member being substantially circular in configuration and being at least partially defined by a center and a radial centerline rotated about said center, said at least one extension member being operable to extend in a direction generally perpendicular with respect to said radial centerline of said body member; whereby by varying the position of said at least one extension member with respect to said body member, said at least one attachment member may be secured to the bone by the at least one bone screw at a plurality of different positions with respect to said body member by varying the position of said at least one extension member with respect to said body member.

Claim 27

An apparatus for fixation of bone during surgical procedures using at least one bone screw, said apparatus comprising: a body member which is operable to cover at least a portion of the bone; at least one attachment member which is operable to be secured to the bone, said at least one attachment member including means for receiving the at least one bone screw and securing said at least one attachment member to the bone upon receipt of the at least one bone screw; and at least one extension member mechanically communicating with said body member and a respective one of said at least one attachment member, said at least one extension member being operable to be positioned with respect to said body member, said body member being substantially circular in configuration and being at least partially defined by a center and a radial centerline rotated about said center, said at least one extension member being operable to extend in a direction generally perpendicular with respect to said radial centerline of said body member; whereby by varying the position of said at least one extension member with respect to said body member, said at least one attachment member may be secured to the bone by the at least one bone screw at a plurality of different positions with respect to said body member by varying the position of said at least one extension member with respect to said body member.

Claim 28

A method for fixating bone during surgical procedures using a bone screw, said method comprising the steps of: forming an apparatus for fixation of the bone, said apparatus including: (a) a body member defining a generally planar surface which is operable to cover at least a portion of the bone, (b) at least one attachment member which is operable to be secured to the bone, said at least one attachment member including means for receiving the bone screw and securing said at least one attachment member to the bone upon receipt of the bone screw, (c) at least one extension member mechanically communicating with a respective one of said body member and said at least one attachment member, a distal end of said at least one extension member being operable to be displaced generally radially with respect to said body member within the plane of the body member, and (d) a latch portion situated between said extension member and said body member; determining a desired position of said body member with respect to the bone; determining a desired position of the bone screw with respect to the bone; displacing said extension member with respect to said body member in response to said step of determining the desired position of said body member and said step of determining the desired position of the bone screw; and securing said apparatus to the bone by causing the bone screw to engage said at least one attachment member and the bone.

Claim 29

A method for fixating bone during surgical procedures using a bone screw, said method comprising the steps of: forming an apparatus for fixation of the bone, said apparatus including: (a) a body member defining a generally planar surface which is operable to cover at least a portion of the bone, (b) at least one attachment member which is operable to be secured to the bone, said at least one attachment member including means for receiving the bone screw and securing said at least one attachment member to the bone upon receipt of the bone screw, (c) at least one extension member mechanically communicating with a respective one of said body member and said at least one attachment member, a distal end of said at least one extension member being operable to be displaced generally radially with respect to said body member within the plane of the body member, and (d) a latch portion situated between said extension member and said body member; determining a desired position of said body member with respect to the bone; determining a desired position of the bone screw with respect to the bone; displacing said extension member with respect to said body member in response to said step of determining the desired position of said body member and said step of determining the desired position of the bone screw; and securing said apparatus to the bone by causing the bone screw to engage said at least one attachment member and the bone.

Claim 30

An apparatus for fixation of bone during surgical procedures which is operable to cover a burr hole formed in the bone, said apparatus being further operable to be secured to the bone using a plurality of bone screws, said apparatus comprising: a body member which is operable to cover the burr hole; a plurality of attachment members extending radially from said body member that are operable to be secured to the bone, each of said attachment members including means for receiving one of the bone screws so as to secure said attachment members to the bone; a plurality of elongated flow passages disposed on said body member, said plurality of elongated flow passages being disposed concentrically with respect to the center of said body member; and a plurality of extension members, each of said extension members being disposed between a respective one of said attachment members and said body member, each of said extension members being operable to be moved with respect to said body member, said body member further comprises a plurality of latch portions which mechanically communicate with said extension members, said latch portions being operable to selectively allow said extension members to be moved with respect to said body member; whereby said body member is operable to be secured to the bone in a position covering the burr hole and fluid flowing proximate to the bone is operable to flow through said body member.

Claim 31

An apparatus for fixation of bone during surgical procedures which is operable to cover a burr hole formed in the bone, said apparatus being further operable to be secured to the bone using a plurality of bone screws, said apparatus comprising: a body member which is operable to cover the burr hole; a plurality of attachment members extending radially from said body member that are operable to be secured to the bone, each of said attachment members including means for receiving one of the bone screws so as to secure said attachment members to the bone; a plurality of elongated flow passages disposed on said body member, said plurality of elongated flow passages being disposed concentrically with respect to the center of said body member; and a plurality of extension members, each of said extension members being disposed between a respective one of said attachment members and said body member, each of said extension members being operable to be moved with respect to said body member, said body member further comprises a plurality of latch portions which mechanically communicate with said extension members, said latch portions being operable to selectively allow said extension members to be moved with respect to said body member; whereby said body member is operable to be secured to the bone in a position covering the burr hole and fluid flowing proximate to the bone is operable to flow through said body member.