Orthopedic plate for use in small bone repair

Abstract

The present invention relates to a series of orthopedic plates for use in repair of a bone. The plate has a Y-shaped profile or an X-shaped profile which includes an elongate central trunk with a complex contour and either one or two terminal pairs of arms that have a first arm and a second arm that form differing angles and lengths relative to the trunk portion of the plate. The arms include locking screw holes where the screws converge toward each other to provide for multiplanar fixation but which do not impinge.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . An orthopedic plate, comprising:
 a trunk extending from a first end to a second end substantially on a longitudinal axis, wherein an inferior surface of the trunk defines a radius of curvature;   a first arm extending from the first end of the trunk at a first angle of divergence from the longitudinal axis, the first arm comprising:
 a linking portion extending from the trunk; and 
 a distal portion including an annular ring having a thickness greater than a thickness of the linking portion, wherein the annular ring defines a first screw hole sized and configured to receive a screw having a threaded head therein; 
   wherein the first arm continues the radius of curvature of the trunk.   
     
     
         22 . The orthopedic plate of  claim 21 , wherein the trunk defines a second screw hole having a screw axis perpendicular to a tangent of a top radius of the trunk. 
     
     
         23 . The orthopedic plate of  claim 22 , wherein the second screw hole comprises a compression screw hole. 
     
     
         24 . The orthopedic plate of  claim 23 , wherein the second screw hole comprises a lip which descends towards the inferior surface of the trunk to allow compression to be applied across a middle of the trunk. 
     
     
         25 . The orthopedic plate of  claim 22 , wherein the trunk defines a third screw hole and a waist area extending between a portion of the trunk defining the first screw hole and a portion of the trunk defining the second screw hole. 
     
     
         26 . The orthopedic plate of  claim 25 , wherein the waist portion is configured to be bent laterally relative to the longitudinal axis of the trunk. 
     
     
         27 . The orthopedic plate of  claim 21 , wherein the first screw hole defines a screw axis perpendicular to a tangent of the superior surface of the first arm. 
     
     
         28 . The orthopedic plate of  claim 21 , comprising a second arm extending from the trunk at a second angle of divergence from the longitudinal axis, wherein the second arm defines a second screw hole, wherein the second arm continues the radius of curvature of the trunk. 
     
     
         29 . The orthopedic plate of  claim 28 , wherein the second arm extends from the second end of the trunk. 
     
     
         30 . The orthopedic plate of  claim 29 , wherein the second angle of divergence is equal to a negative of the first angle of divergence. 
     
     
         31 . The orthopedic plate of  claim 28 , wherein the second arm extends from the first end of the trunk. 
     
     
         32 . The orthopedic plate of  claim 31 , wherein the second screw hole defines a screw axis perpendicular to a tangent of a superior surface of the second arm such that a screw inserted through the first screw hole and a screw inserted through the second screw hole do not impinge on each other. 
     
     
         33 . A system, comprising:
 an orthopedic plate, comprising:
 a trunk extending from a first end to a second end substantially on a longitudinal axis, wherein an inferior surface of the trunk defines a radius of curvature; 
 a first arm extending from the first end of the trunk at a first angle of divergence from the longitudinal axis, the first arm comprising:
 a linking portion extending from the trunk; and 
 a distal portion including an annular ring having a thickness greater than a thickness of the linking portion, wherein the annular ring defines a first screw hole sized and configured to receive a screw having a threaded head therein; 
 
 wherein the first arm continues the radius of curvature of the trunk; and 
   a first screw having a threaded head sized and configured to couple to the first screw hole.   
     
     
         34 . The orthopedic plate of  claim 33 , wherein the trunk defines a second screw hole having a screw axis perpendicular to a tangent of a top radius of the trunk. 
     
     
         35 . The orthopedic plate of  claim 34 , wherein the second screw hole comprises a compression screw hole. 
     
     
         36 . The orthopedic plate of  claim 35 , wherein the second screw hole comprises a lip which descends towards the inferior surface of the trunk to allow compression to be applied across a middle of the trunk. 
     
     
         37 . The orthopedic plate of  claim 34 , wherein the trunk defines a third screw hole and a waist area extending between a portion of the trunk defining the first screw hole and a portion of the trunk defining the second screw hole. 
     
     
         38 . The orthopedic plate of  claim 37 , wherein the waist portion is configured to be bent laterally relative to the longitudinal axis of the trunk. 
     
     
         39 . The orthopedic plate of  claim 33 , wherein the first screw hole defines a screw axis perpendicular to a tangent of the superior surface of the first arm. 
     
     
         40 . An orthopedic plate, comprising:
 a trunk extending from a first end to a second end substantially on a longitudinal axis, wherein an inferior surface of the trunk defines a radius of curvature, wherein the trunk defines a first screw hole having a screw axis perpendicular to a tangent of a top radius of the trunk;   a first arm extending from the first end of the trunk at a first angle of divergence from the longitudinal axis, the first arm comprising:
 a linking portion extending from the trunk; and 
 a distal portion including an annular ring having a thickness greater than a thickness of the linking portion, wherein the annular ring defines a second screw hole sized and configured to receive a screw having a threaded head therein; 
   a second arm extending from the trunk at a second angle of divergence from the longitudinal axis, wherein the second arm defines a third screw hole   wherein the first arm and the second arm each continue the radius of curvature of the trunk.