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 . A surgical plate system comprising a pre-contoured plate having spaced-apart concentric surfaces, a first arm and a second arm, at least one screw hole wherein the first arm and the second arm extend from a first end of the plate, the concentric surfaces of the first arm and of the second arm together define a spiral, the first arm having an ear with at least one screw hole defining a first screw hole axis, the first ear being attached to the plate by a transition section, a first angle being defined by the first arm with respect to the plate, and a first arm length defined between the transition section and the first arm screw hole along the first arm, and, the second arm having a second ear defining at least one second screw hole, the second ear being attached to the plate by a transition section, a second angle being defined by the second arm with respect to the plate and a second length defined between the transition section and wherein the transition section of the first arm and the second arm is configured to bend relative to the plate in response to a force applied before or during surgery without deforming the screw hole and the first angle and the first length being different from the second angle and the second length whereby an axis of the first screw hole axis and the second screw hole converge toward one another in the absence of an axis intersection to allow for multiplanar fixation; and
 at least two screws, one located within the first screw hole and one located within the second screw hole, wherein the two screws do not impinge upon one another.   
     
     
         22 . The surgical plate system according to  claim 21 , wherein the at least two screws, each have a length and a diameter such that the two screws do not impinge on each other. 
     
     
         23 . A surgical plate system according to  claim 22 , wherein a central portion of the plate defines a hole. 
     
     
         24 . The surgical plate system according to  claim 23 , wherein the central portion of the plate has at least two holes and a central transition section between the through holes to facilitate bending in response to a force applied before or during surgery. 
     
     
         25 . The surgical plate system according to  claim 21 , wherein the central portion of the plate defines an oblong slot. 
     
     
         26 . The surgical plate system according to  claim 22 , further including at least one screw having a threaded shaft and a head wherein at least one screw hole and the screw head have a mating interface such that the screw can engage the screw hole so as to allow a plurality of angular orientations of the screw relative to the plate. 
     
     
         27 . The surgical plate system according to  claim 22 , further including at least one screw having a threaded shaft and a head wherein at least one screw hole and the screw head define a mating interface such that the screw can engage the screw hole at a fixed angular orientation relative to the plate. 
     
     
         28 . A surgical plate system according to  claim 27 , wherein the screw hole includes internal threads and the screw head includes external threads which together form a fixed orientation of the screw relative to the plate. 
     
     
         29 . The surgical plate system according to  claim 28 , further including a drill guide wherein each screw hole includes guide keyways which orient the angle of the drill guide relative to the plate.