Self-locking osteosynthesis device

Abstract

The self-locking osteosynthesis device includes a plate equipped with holes for the passage of fixation screws. The invention is characterized in that, at least in the areas defining the screw holes, the aforementioned plate is made from a material having mechanical properties such that the periphery of the holes can be self-tapped by means of tapping screws which can be used to fix the plate.

1 . An osteosynthesis assembly comprising:
 a plate having a plurality of plate openings formed therein, at least some of said plurality of openings having a peripheral projection extended thereinto;   an insert received in one of the openings having a peripheral projection, the insert having an inner wall defining a hole and being formed of a biocompatible material, the insert engaging said peripheral projection of said plate opening such that the insert does not rotate in at least one direction relative to the plate; and   a screw having a shank portion with a thread on at least a section thereof and a second wider portion having a thread on at least a section thereof, the wider portion threadably secured in the hole of said insert,   wherein said inner wall of the insert is jammed against said thread of the wider portion of the screw by deformation of the biocompatible material against said thread;   wherein the hole of the insert has a large opening on an outside side of the plate and a small opening on an inside side of the plate.   
     
     
         2 . The osteosynthesis assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the biocompatible material substantially resists biological degradation. 
     
     
         3 . The osteosynthesis assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the shank portion of the screw is sized to pass freely through the hole in the insert. 
     
     
         4 . The osteosynthesis assembly of  claim 1 , wherein a base of the second portion of the screw is smaller than the large opening of the hole in the insert, and a head of the second portion of the screw is larger than the small opening of the hole in the insert. 
     
     
         5 . The osteosynthesis assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said plate is formed of a metallic material. 
     
     
         6 . The osteosynthesis assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the insert comprises a lower edge, an upper edge, and a notch extending from the lower edge towards the upper edge. 
     
     
         7 . The osteosynthesis assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the inner wall of the insert tapers inwardly from the large opening to the small opening. 
     
     
         8 . The osteosynthesis assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the insert comprises a peripheral groove that engages the peripheral projection of said plate opening. 
     
     
         9 . An osteosynthesis assembly comprising:
 a plate having a plurality of plate openings formed therein, at least some of said plurality of openings having a peripheral projection extended thereinto;   an insert received in one of the openings having a peripheral projection, the insert having an inner wall defining a hole and being formed of a biocompatible material, the insert engaging said peripheral projection of said plate opening such that the insert does not rotate in at least one direction relative to the plate; and   a screw having a shank portion with a thread on at least a section thereof and a second wider portion having a thread on at least a section thereof, the wider portion threadably secured in the hole of said insert;   wherein said inner wall of the insert is jammed against said thread of the wider portion of the screw by deformation of the biocompatible material against said thread;   wherein the biocompatible material substantially resists biological degradation.   
     
     
         10 . The osteosynthesis assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the shank portion of the screw is sized to pass freely through the hole in the insert. 
     
     
         11 . The osteosynthesis assembly of  claim 9 , wherein said plate is formed of a metallic material. 
     
     
         12 . The osteosynthesis assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the insert comprises a lower edge, an upper edge, and a notch extending from the lower edge towards the upper edge. 
     
     
         13 . The osteosynthesis assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the hole of the insert has a large opening toward a top side of the plate and a small opening toward a bottom side of the plate. 
     
     
         14 . The osteosynthesis assembly of  claim 13 , wherein a base of the second portion of the screw is smaller than the large opening of the hole in the insert, and wherein a head of the second portion is larger than the small opening of the hole in the insert. 
     
     
         15 . The osteosynthesis assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the large opening is on an outside side of the plate and the small opening is on an inside side of the plate. 
     
     
         16 . The osteosynthesis assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the insert comprises a peripheral groove that engages the peripheral projection of said plate opening. 
     
     
         17 . An osteosynthesis assembly comprising:
 a plate having a plurality of plate openings formed therein;   an insert received in one of the openings, the insert having an inner wall defining a hole and being formed of a biocompatible material, the insert engaging said plate opening such that the insert does not rotate in at least one direction relative to the plate; and   a screw having a shank portion with a thread on at least a section thereof and a generally conical head portion having a thread on at least a section thereof, the head portion threadably secured in the hole of said insert;   wherein said inner wall of the insert is jammed against said thread of the head portion of the screw by deformation of the biocompatible material against said thread;   wherein the hole of the insert has a large opening on an outside side of the plate and a small opening on an inside side of the plate.   
     
     
         18 . The osteosynthesis assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the biocompatible material substantially resists biological degradation. 
     
     
         19 . The osteosynthesis assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the shank portion of the screw is sized to pass freely through the hole in the insert. 
     
     
         20 . The osteosynthesis assembly of  claim 17 , wherein a base of the head portion of the screw is smaller than the large opening of the hole in the insert, and a top of the head portion is larger than the small opening of the hole in the insert. 
     
     
         21 . The osteosynthesis assembly of  claim 17 , wherein said plate is formed of a metallic material. 
     
     
         22 . The osteosynthesis assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the insert comprises a lower edge, an upper edge, and a notch extending from the lower edge towards the upper edge. 
     
     
         23 . The osteosynthesis assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the inner wall of the insert tapers inwardly from the large opening to the small opening. 
     
     
         24 . The osteosynthesis assembly of  claim 17 , wherein a peripheral wall of the plate opening containing the insert and an outer wall of the insert are configured to engage each other such that the insert does not rotate in at least one direction relative to the plate. 
     
     
         25 . The osteosynthesis assembly of  claim 24 , wherein the plate opening includes a peripheral projection and the insert includes a peripheral groove sized to engage the peripheral projection. 
     
     
         26 . An osteosynthesis assembly comprising:
 a plate having a top side, a bottom side, and a plurality of plate openings formed therein from the top side to the bottom side;   an insert received in one of the openings, the insert having an inner wall defining a hole and being formed of a biocompatible material, the insert engaging said plate opening such that the insert does not rotate in at least one direction relative to the plate; and   a screw having a shank portion with a thread on at least a section thereof and a second wider portion having a thread on at least a section thereof, the wider portion threadably secured in the hole of said insert;   wherein said inner wall of the insert is jammed against said thread of the wider portion of the screw by deformation of the biocompatible material against said thread;   wherein the hole of the insert has a large opening toward the top side of the plate and a small opening toward the bottom side of the plate, the inner wall of the insert tapering inwardly from the large opening to the small opening.   
     
     
         27 . The osteosynthesis assembly of  claim 26 , wherein the biocompatible material substantially resists biological degradation. 
     
     
         28 . The osteosynthesis assembly of  claim 26 , wherein the shank portion of the screw is sized to pass freely through the hole in the insert. 
     
     
         29 . The osteosynthesis assembly of  claim 26 , wherein a base of the second portion of the screw is smaller than the large opening of the hole in the insert, and wherein a head of the second portion of the screw is larger than the small opening of hole in the insert. 
     
     
         30 . The osteosynthesis assembly of  claim 26 , wherein said plate is formed of a metallic material. 
     
     
         31 . The osteosynthesis assembly of  claim 26 , wherein the insert comprises a lower edge, an upper edge, and a notch extending from the lower edge towards the upper edge. 
     
     
         32 . The osteosynthesis assembly of  claim 26 , wherein the large opening is on an outside side of the plate and the small opening is on an inside side of the plate. 
     
     
         33 . The osteosynthesis assembly of  claim 26 , wherein a peripheral wall of the plate opening containing the insert and an outer wall of the insert are configured to engage each other such that the insert does not rotate in at least one direction relative to the plate. 
     
     
         34 . The osteosynthesis assembly of  claim 33 , wherein the plate opening includes a peripheral projection and the insert includes a peripheral groove sized to engage the peripheral projection. 
     
     
         35 . An osteosynthesis assembly comprising:
 a plate having a plurality of plate openings formed therein;   an insert received in one of the openings, the insert having an inner wall defining a hole and being formed of a biocompatible material, the insert engaging said plate opening such that the insert does not rotate in at least one direction relative to the plate; and   a screw having a shank portion with a thread on at least a section thereof and a generally conical head portion having a thread on at least a section thereof, the head portion threadably secured in the hole of said insert;   wherein said inner wall of the insert is jammed against said thread of the head portion of the screw by deformation of the biocompatible material against said thread;   wherein the biocompatible material is adapted to substantially resist biological degradation.   
     
     
         36 . The osteosynthesis assembly of  claim 35 , wherein the shank portion of the screw is sized to pass freely through the hole in the insert. 
     
     
         37 . The osteosynthesis assembly of  claim 35 , wherein said plate is formed of a metallic material. 
     
     
         38 . The osteosynthesis assembly of  claim 35 , wherein the insert comprises a lower edge, an upper edge, and a notch extending from the lower edge towards the upper edge. 
     
     
         39 . The osteosynthesis assembly of  claim 35 , wherein the hole of the insert has a large opening on an outside side of the plate and a small opening on an inside side of the plate. 
     
     
         40 . The osteosynthesis assembly of  claim 39 , wherein a base of the head portion of the screw is smaller than the large opening of the hole in the insert, and wherein a top of the head portion of the screw is larger than the small opening of the hole in the insert. 
     
     
         41 . The osteosynthesis assembly of  claim 39 , wherein the inner wall of the insert tapers inwardly from the large opening to the small opening. 
     
     
         42 . The osteosynthesis assembly of  claim 35 , wherein a peripheral wall of the plate opening containing the insert and an outer wall of the insert are configured to engage each other such that the insert does not rotate in at least one direction relative to the plate. 
     
     
         43 . The osteosynthesis assembly of  claim 42 , wherein the plate opening includes a peripheral projection and the insert includes a peripheral groove sized to engage the peripheral projection.