Orthopedic plates for use in clavicle repair and methods for their use

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 defining a first screw hole sized and configured to receive a screw having a threaded head therein;   a second arm extending from the second end of the trunk at a second angle of divergence from the longitudinal axis, the second arm defining a second screw hole sized and configured to receive a screw having a threaded head therein, wherein the second angle of divergence is equal to a negative of the first angle of divergence with respect to the longitudinal axis, and wherein the first arm continues the radius of curvature of the trunk.   
     
     
         22 . The orthopedic plate of  claim 21 , wherein the trunk defines a third 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 third screw hole comprises a compression screw hole. 
     
     
         24 . The orthopedic plate of  claim 23 , wherein the third 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 fourth screw hole and a waist area extending between a portion of the trunk defining the third screw hole and a portion of the trunk defining the fourth 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 , wherein the first arm comprises:
 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 the first screw hole.   
     
     
         29 . The orthopedic plate of  claim 21 , comprising:
 a third arm extending from the first end of the trunk at a third angle of divergence from the longitudinal axis, the third arm defining a third screw hole sized and configured to receive a screw therein, wherein the third arm continues the radius of curvature of the trunk.   
     
     
         30 . The orthopedic plate of  claim 29 , wherein the first screw hole defines a screw axis perpendicular to a tangent of a superior surface of the first arm and the third screw hole defines a screw axis perpendicular to a tangent of a superior surface of the third arm such that a screw inserted through the first screw hole and a screw inserted through the third screw hole do not impinge on each other. 
     
     
         31 . The orthopedic plate of  claim 29 , comprising:
 a fourth arm extending from the second end of the trunk at a fourth angle of divergence from the longitudinal axis, the fourth arm defining a fourth screw hole sized and configured to receive a screw therein, wherein the fourth arm continues the radius of curvature of the trunk.   
     
     
         32 . The orthopedic plate of  claim 31 , wherein the fourth angle of divergence is equal to a negative of the third angle of divergence with respect to the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         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 defining a first screw hole sized and configured to receive a screw having a threaded head therein; 
 a second arm extending from the second end of the trunk at a second angle of divergence from the longitudinal axis, the second arm defining a second screw hole sized and configured to receive a screw having a threaded head therein, wherein the second angle of divergence is equal to a negative of the first angle of divergence with respect to the longitudinal axis, and 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 system of  claim 33 , wherein the trunk defines a third screw hole having a screw axis perpendicular to a tangent of a top radius of the trunk. 
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 34 , wherein the third screw hole comprises a compression screw hole including a lip which descends towards the inferior surface of the trunk to allow compression to be applied across a middle of the trunk. 
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 34 , wherein the trunk defines a fourth screw hole and a waist area extending between a portion of the trunk defining the third screw hole and a portion of the trunk defining the fourth screw hole. 
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 37 , wherein the waist portion is configured to be bent laterally relative to the longitudinal axis of the trunk. 
     
     
         38 . The system of  claim 33 , wherein the first screw hole defines a screw axis perpendicular to a tangent of the superior surface of the first arm. 
     
     
         39 . The system of  claim 33 , wherein the first arm comprises:
 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 the first screw hole. 
     
     
         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;   a first arm extending from the first end of the trunk at a first angle of divergence from the longitudinal axis, the first arm defining a first screw hole sized and configured to receive a screw having a threaded head therein;   a second arm extending from the second end of the trunk at a second angle of divergence from the longitudinal axis, the second arm defining a second screw hole sized and configured to receive a screw having a threaded head therein, wherein the second angle of divergence is equal to a negative of the first angle of divergence with respect to the longitudinal axis;   a third arm extending from the first end of the trunk at a third angle of divergence from the longitudinal axis, the third arm defining a third screw hole sized and configured to receive a screw therein, wherein the third arm continues the radius of curvature of the trunk, wherein the first screw hole defines a screw axis perpendicular to a tangent of a superior surface of the first arm and the third screw hole defines a screw axis perpendicular to a tangent of a superior surface of the third arm such that a screw inserted through the first screw hole and a screw inserted through the third screw hole do not impinge on each other; and   a fourth arm extending from the second end of the trunk at a fourth angle of divergence from the longitudinal axis, the fourth arm defining a fourth screw hole sized and configured to receive a screw therein, wherein the fourth arm continues the radius of curvature of the trunk, wherein the fourth angle of divergence is equal to a negative of the third angle of divergence with respect to the longitudinal axis, and wherein the first arm, second arm, third arm, and fourth arm each continue the radius of curvature of the trunk.