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 - 43 . (canceled) 
     
     
         44 . An orthopedic plate comprising:
 a trunk including at least one pair of asymmetrically divergent arms, with each arm defining a threaded screw hole, wherein the trunk further includes spaced apart first side and second side edges with one of the pair divergent projecting outwardly from a respective edge, the trunk being curved along a longitudinal direction and a surface of the trunk is curve radially such that each arm includes an inferior radial curve.   
     
     
         45 . The orthopedic plate as set forth in  claim 44 , wherein each threaded screw hole defines a screw axis and further including screws having a threaded shaft and a head wherein the threaded screw holes and the screw heads of each screw have a mating interface such that the screw can engage a threaded screw hole so as to allow a plurality of angular orientations of the screw axis of that threaded screw hole. 
     
     
         46 . The orthopedic plate as set forth in  claim 45 , wherein the radial curve of the trunk is arranged transverse orientation relative to the trunk. 
     
     
         47 . The orthopedic plate as set forth in  claim 46 , wherein a medial axis of the trunk and the radial curve are constant along the medial axis. 
     
     
         48 . The orthopedic plate as set forth in  claim 47 , wherein the radius of the radial curve is constant so that the orthopedic plate defines a segment of a cylinder. 
     
     
         49 . The orthopedic plate as set forth in  claim 44 , wherein each arm of the pair of divergent arms defines no openings. 
     
     
         50 . The orthopedic plate as set forth in  claim 49 , wherein the first arm and the second arm each having a discrete section joined to the trunk and a portion of the first arm and the second arm is configured to bend relative to the trunk in response to a force applied to at least one of before and during surgery without deforming a threaded screw hole. 
     
     
         51 . The orthopedic plate as set forth in  claim 44 , wherein the trunk defines a through opening. 
     
     
         52 . The orthopedic plate as set forth in  claim 51 , wherein the trunk defines at least two through openings and a portion of the trunk located between the through openings is configured and arranged so that the trunk may bend in response to a force applied at least one of before and during surgery. 
     
     
         53 . The orthopedic plate as set forth in  claim 44 , wherein the trunk defines a slot. 
     
     
         54 . The orthopedic plate as set forth in  claim 53 , wherein the slot is defined by an internal edge and a shoulder that slopes toward the inferior surface. 
     
     
         55 . The orthopedic plate as set forth in  claim 54 , wherein the trunk includes a superior surface spaced from the inferior surface, and the superior surface including a visual indication of the direction in which a screw engaged with the slot bias the plate relative to a bone. 
     
     
         56 . A plate system for use in bone comprising:
 a first locking screw and a second locking screw, and   a bilaterally asymmetrical plate having a trunk including at least one pair of asymmetrically divergent arms, with each arm defining a threaded screw hole, wherein the trunk further includes spaced apart first side and second side edges with one of the pair divergent projecting outwardly from a respective edge, the trunk being curved along a longitudinal direction and a surface of the trunk is curve radially such that each arm includes an inferior radial curve.   
     
     
         57 . The plate system as set forth in  claim 56 , wherein each of the first locking screw and the second locking screw have a proximal end and a distal end that project outwardly from the orthopedic plate, wherein the distal ends of the screws converge toward each other without impinging upon one another. 
     
     
         58 . The plate system as set forth in  claim 57 , wherein one or both of the first locking screw and the second locking screw are engaged with the plate at different angles relative to at least one of the superior and inferior surfaces. 
     
     
         59 . The plate system as set forth in  claim 58 , wherein the trunk defines a radial curve that is transverse to the plate and being defined by a constant radius so as to form a segment of a cylinder. 
     
     
         60 . The plate system as set forth in  claim 59 , wherein each arm projects outwardly from an edge of the trunk and is configured to bend relative to the trunk in response to a force applied at least to one of before and during surgery without deforming a threaded screw hole. 
     
     
         61 . The plate system as set forth in  claim 59 , wherein the trunk defines a slot with an internal edge that includes a shoulder that slopes toward the inferior surface. 
     
     
         62 . A plating system comprising:
 a first locking screw, a second locking screw, and a plate having a trunk comprising   at least one pair of arms projecting outward from the trunk wherein each arm diverges asymmetrically outward from the trunk relative to the other arm with each of the arms defining a threaded locking hole that is in locked arrangement with one of the first and the second locking screws, the plate being contoured such that the arms are arranged in a spiral so as to wrap around a bone axis through an arc of less than 50° wherein the trunk defines a longitudinal curve and a inferior surface of the trunk defines a radial curve.   
     
     
         63 . The plate system as set forth in  claim 62 , wherein each of the first locking screw and the second locking screw have a proximal end and a distal end that project outwardly from the plate, wherein the distal ends of the screws converge toward one another without impinging upon one another. 
     
     
         64 . The plate system as set forth in  claim 63 , wherein one or both of the first locking screw and the second locking screw are engaged with the plate at a surgeon-selected angle relative to plate. 
     
     
         65 . The plate system as set forth in  claim 64 , wherein the plate has only one set of arms and an outline that forms a Y-shape or the plate has only two sets of terminal arms which are at either end of the trunk and an outline that forms an X-shape. 
     
     
         66 . The plate system as set forth in  claim 65 , wherein the trunk defines at least two through openings with a portion of the trunk located between the through openings being configured so as to be susceptible to bending in response to a force applied at least one of before and during surgery. 
     
     
         67 . The plate system as set forth in  claim 66 , wherein the trunk defines a slot comprising with an internal edge and a shoulder that slopes toward an inferior surface of the plate. 
     
     
         68 . The plate system as set forth in  claim 67 , wherein the plate has a superior surface spaced from an inferior surface where the superior surface includes a visual indicator of the direction in which a screw engaged with the plate through the slot can be used to apply compression.