Bone plates, screws and instruments

Abstract

Systems for trauma and/or joint fusion implants and instruments include transarticular screw and intra-articular washer, polyaxial screw and plate, single- and multi-level polyaxial bone clamps, and minimally invasive adaptations.

1 - 16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . A bone plate assembly, comprising:
 a first plate comprising an obverse side and a reverse side opposite the obverse side;   a second plate comprising an obverse side and a reverse side opposite the obverse side;   a coupling mechanism configured between the first and second plates;   one or more first pads configured on the obverse side of the first plate, the one or more first pads configured to contact a bone and comprising one or more pad pivot elements configured to allow at least one first pad to pivot about at least one axis relative to the first plate; and   one or more second pads configured on the obverse side of the second plate, the one or more second pads configured to contact a bone and comprising one or more pad pivot elements configured to allow at least one second pad to pivot about at least one axis relative to the second plate.   
     
     
         18 . The bone plate assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the first plate is configured to allow the first plate to polyaxially rotate relative to the second plate. 
     
     
         19 . The bone plate assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the coupling mechanism is configured to be engaged to translationally and rotationally fix the first plate relative to the second plate. 
     
     
         20 . The bone plate assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the coupling mechanism has an unlocked configuration and a locked configuration;
 wherein the coupling mechanism is configured to transition from the unlocked configuration to the locked configuration in response to a compression force.   
     
     
         21 . The bone plate assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the coupling mechanism has at least a first portion associated with the first plate and at least a second portion associated with the second plate, wherein the first portion and the second portion are configured to engage one another. 
     
     
         22 . The bone plate assembly of  claim 17 , wherein engagement of the coupling mechanism provides an interference lock. 
     
     
         23 . The bone plate assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the one or more first pads comprise a surface including a plurality of protrusions configured to contact the bone. 
     
     
         24 . The bone plate assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the one or more first pads are configured to pivot relative to the first plate through a range of motion;
 wherein the range of motion comprises a neutral position relative to the first plate and a tilted position relative to the first plate;   wherein the one or more first pads comprise a surface configured to contact the bone;   wherein the surface is parallel to the obverse side of the first plate in the neutral position;   wherein the surface is oblique to the obverse side of the first plate in the tilted position.   
     
     
         25 . The bone plate assembly of  claim 17 , wherein, in an initial configuration, the one or more first pads are configured to at least partially rotate about at least one axis relative to the first plate; and
 wherein, in a final configuration, the one or more first pads are rotationally fixed relative to the first plate.   
     
     
         26 . The bone plate assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the one or more first pads are configured within at least one recess on the obverse side of the first plate. 
     
     
         27 . A bone plate assembly, comprising:
 a first plate comprising a first obverse side and a first reverse side opposite the first obverse side, the first obverse side comprising one or more pads configured to contact a bone;   a second plate comprising a second obverse side and a second reverse side opposite the second obverse side, the second obverse side comprising one or more pads configured to contact a bone;   a coupling mechanism configured between the first and second plates;   wherein the bone plate assembly has an unlocked configuration and a locked configuration;   wherein, in the unlocked configuration, the first plate is configured to rotate and translate relative to the second plate;   wherein, in the locked configuration, the first plate is rotationally and translationally fixed relative to the second plate;   wherein the bone plate assembly is configured to transition from the unlocked configuration to the locked configuration in response to engagement of the coupling mechanism.   
     
     
         28 . The bone plate assembly of  claim 27 , wherein the coupling mechanism is configured to be engaged in response to a compression force urging the first obverse side and the second obverse side together. 
     
     
         29 . The bone plate assembly of  claim 27 , wherein engagement of the coupling mechanism provides an interference lock. 
     
     
         30 . The bone plate assembly of  claim 27 , wherein, in the unlocked configuration, the bone plate assembly is configured to allow the first plate to polyaxially rotate relative to the coupling mechanism. 
     
     
         31 . The bone plate assembly of  claim 27 , wherein the one or more pads of the first plate are configured to polyaxially rotate relative to the first plate in an initial configuration. 
     
     
         32 . The bone plate assembly of  claim 27 , wherein the one or more pads of the first plate comprise one or more pad pivot elements configured to allow the first one or more pads to pivot relative to the first plate. 
     
     
         33 . The bone plate assembly of  claim 27 , wherein the one or more first pads are configured to pivot relative to the first plate through a range of motion;
 wherein the range of motion comprises a neutral position relative to the first plate and a tilted position relative to the first plate;   wherein the one or more first pads comprise a surface configured to contact the bone;   wherein the surface is parallel to the first obverse side in the neutral position;   wherein the surface is oblique to the first obverse side in the tilted position.   
     
     
         34 . The bone plate assembly of  claim 27 , wherein, in an initial configuration, the one or more first pads are configured to at least partially rotate relative to the first plate; and
 wherein, in a final configuration, the one or more first pads are rotationally fixed relative to the first plate.   
     
     
         35 . The bone plate assembly of  claim 27 , wherein the one or more pads comprise a surface including a plurality of protrusions configured to contact the bone. 
     
     
         36 . The bone plate assembly of  claim 27 , wherein the one or more first pads are configured within at least one recess on the first obverse side.