Bone Plate

Abstract

A bone plate includes an upper surface, a bone contacting surface, and at least one hole extending through the upper and bone contacting surfaces. The bone plate defines a longitudinal axis. The at least one hole defines a central axis and is elongated in a direction substantially aligned with the longitudinal axis. The hole may include a threaded portion and a non-threaded portion, and the threaded portion may extend through an angle of between about 190° and about 280° with respect to the central axis.

1 - 52 . (canceled) 
     
     
         53 . A bone plate having a plate longitudinal axis and comprising:
 an upper surface;   a lower surface;   a first hole extending along a first central axis from the upper surface to the lower surface, the first hole extending across the upper surface along a hole longitudinal axis, the first hole being elongated along the hole longitudinal axis, the first hole being non-threaded and including an outer perimeter, a portion of which tapers inward from the upper surface to the lower surface to form at least one ramp surface for engaging a first screw inserted therein; and   a second hole extending along a second central axis from the upper surface to the lower surface, the second hole extending through the upper and lower surfaces along the second central axis, the second hole including an internal thread configured and dimensioned to engage a threaded portion of a head of a second screw inserted therein.   
     
     
         54 . The bone plate of  claim 53 , wherein the plate comprises a plurality of the first hole and a plurality of the second hole. 
     
     
         55 . The bone plate of  claim 54 , wherein the first holes are located closer than the second holes to a first end of the plate longitudinal axis and the second holes are located closer than the first holes to a second end of the plate longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         56 . The bone plate of  claim 53 , wherein the hole longitudinal axis is substantially aligned with the plate longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         57 . The bone plate of  claim 53 , wherein the second hole has an outer perimeter that is substantially circular. 
     
     
         58 . The bone plate of  claim 53 , wherein the ramp surface is located on one end of the hole longitudinal axis to provide compression in a single direction. 
     
     
         59 . The bone plate of  claim 53 , wherein the second hole conically tapers inward from the upper surface towards the lower surface. 
     
     
         60 . The bone plate of  claim 59 , wherein the second hole conically tapers at a cone angle of between about 5° and about 20°. 
     
     
         61 . The bone plate of  claim 53 , further comprising:
 a third hole extending along a third central axis from the upper surface to the lower surface, the third hole extending through the upper and lower surfaces along the third central axis, the third hole being substantially non-threaded.   
     
     
         62 . The bone plate of  claim 61 , further comprising a first group of holes including a plurality of the first hole and at least one of one of the second and third holes, the first group of holes being located closer to a first end of the plate longitudinal axis than a second group of holes including a plurality of the second hole located closer than the first group of holes to a second end of the plate longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         63 . The bone plate of  claim 57 , wherein the second hole has a first opening on the upper surface of the bone plate and a second opening on the bottom surface of the bone plate, the first and second openings having substantially the same dimensions. 
     
     
         64 . (canceled) 
     
     
         65 . The bone plate of  claim 61 , further comprising a first group of holes including a plurality of the first hole and at least one of one of the second and third holes, the first group of holes being located closer to a first end of the plate longitudinal axis and than a second group of holes including a plurality of the third hole located closer than the first group of holes to a second end of the plate longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         66 - 163 . (canceled) 
     
     
         164 . A bone plate defining a plate longitudinal axis and comprising:
 an upper surface;   a lower surface;   a first hole extending along a first central axis from the upper surface to the lower surface, the first hole extending across the upper surface along a hole longitudinal axis, the first hole being elongated along the hole longitudinal axis, the first hole being non-threaded and including an outer perimeter a portion of which tapers inward from the upper surface to the lower surface to form at least one ramp surface for engaging a first screw inserted therein; and   a second hole extending along a second central axis from the upper surface to the lower surface, the second hole extending through the upper and lower surfaces along the second central axis, the second hole being substantially non-threaded.   
     
     
         165 . The bone plate of  claim 164 , wherein the plate comprises a plurality of the first hole and a plurality of the second hole. 
     
     
         166 . The bone plate of  claim 165 , wherein the first holes are located closer than the second holes to a first end of the plate longitudinal axis and the second holes are located closer than the first holes to a second end of the plate longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         167 . The bone plate of  claim 164 , wherein the hole longitudinal axis is substantially aligned with the plate longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         168 . The bone plate of  claim 164 , wherein the second hole has an outer perimeter that is substantially circular. 
     
     
         169 . The bone plate of  claim 164 , wherein the ramp surface is located on one end of the hole longitudinal axis to provide compression in a single direction. 
     
     
         170 . The bone plate of  claim 164 , wherein the second hole conically tapers inward from the upper surface towards the lower surface. 
     
     
         171 . The bone plate of  claim 170 , wherein the second hole conically tapers at a cone angle of between about 5° and about 20°. 
     
     
         172 . The bone plate of  claim 164 , further comprising:
 a third hole extending along a third central axis from the upper surface to the lower surface, the third hole extending through the upper and lower surfaces along the third central axis, the third hole includes an internal thread configured and dimensioned to engage a threaded portion of a head of a second screw inserted therein.   
     
     
         173 . The bone plate of  claim 172 , further comprising a first group of holes including a plurality of the first hole and at least one of one of the second and third holes, the first group of holes being located closer to a first end of the plate longitudinal axis than a second group of holes including a plurality of the second hole located closer than the first group of holes to a second end of the plate longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         174 . The bone plate of  claim 168 , wherein the second hole has a first opening on the upper surface of the bone plate and a second opening on the bottom surface of the bone plate, the first and second openings having substantially the same dimensions. 
     
     
         175 . (canceled) 
     
     
         176 . The bone plate of  claim 172 , further comprising a first group of holes including a plurality of the first hole and at least one of one of the second and third holes, the first group of holes being located closer to a first end of the plate longitudinal axis than a second group of holes including a plurality of the third hole located closer than the first group of holes to a second end of the plate longitudinal axis.