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Abstract

A non-stress-shielding bone fracture healing compression device is to be used with screws, pins or nails for attaching the device to bone tissue. A rigid plate has at least two openings therethrough for purposes of attaching the plate to the bone with screws, pins or nails. At least one of the openings is a relaxation opening that has an opening surface shaped at least in part as a truncated spherical section and has an entrance hole through the top of the plate and an exit hole through the bottom of the plate. The polymer member is shaped to conform to the opening surface and to form circular entrance and exit holes concentric with the respective relaxation opening surface entrance and exit holes. The polymer member can be either resorbable material or viscoelastic material and can be configured to cover either all or less than all of the opening surface of the relaxation opening. When the plate is in use, the resorbable material is absorbed into the body to lessen contact between the pin, for example, and the plate, thereby reducing the load carried by the plate and pin and increasing the load carried by the bone attached to the plate and pin. When viscoelastic material is used, the stress gradually causes this material to creep away from contact with the pin, for example, and the load carried by the plate and pin is reduced while the load carried by the bone is increased.

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First Claim