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.

Claims

1-43. (canceled)

44. An orthopedic plate comprising: an elongate central trunk portion having a medial longitudinal plane and at least one pair of divergent arms, each arm including a threaded screw hole, and each arm of the pair of divergent arms diverging asymmetrically away from the medial longitudinal plane relative to the other arm of the pair of divergent arms, wherein the central trunk defines a longitudinal curve and an inferior surface of the central trunk defines a radial curve extending in a radial direction, and wherein each arm of the pair of divergent arms includes an inferior curve extending in the radial direction.

45. The orthopedic plate as set forth in claim 44, wherein the orthopedic plate defines an outline including the elongate central trunk portion which has a first side edge and a opposing second side edge disposed on opposite sides of the medial longitudinal plane, and the pair of divergent arms comprise a first arm which diverges from the first side edge and a second arm which diverges from the second side edge.

46. The orthopedic plate as set forth in claim 44, wherein the orthopedic plate has a top surface and the medial longitudinal plane intersects the top surface of the orthopedic plate in a longitudinal plate axis, each of the pair of divergent arm threaded screw holes has a mid-point, and the pair of divergent arms comprise a first arm which has a longitudinal arm axis that intersects the mid-point of the first arm threaded screw hole and the longitudinal plate axis to form a first angle with the longitudinal plate axis and a second arm which has a longitudinal arm axis that intersects the mid-point of the second arm threaded screw hole and the longitudinal plate axis to form a second angle with the longitudinal plate axis, and the first angle is different than the second angle.

47. The orthopedic plate as set forth in claim 46, wherein the first longitudinal arm axis and the second longitudinal arm axis respectively have a first length and a second length each respectively defined from the intersection of the threaded screw hole mid-point and the intersection of the longitudinal plate axis and the first length is different from the second length.

48. The orthopedic plate as set forth in claim 47, wherein the threaded screw holes have 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.

49. The orthopedic plate as set forth in claim 48, wherein the radial curve of the central trunk portion defines a curve transverse to the medial longitudinal plane.

50. The orthopedic plate as set forth in claim 49, wherein the medial longitudinal plane defines a medial axis in the central trunk portion and the radial curve is constant along the medial axis.

51. The orthopedic plate as set forth in claim 50, wherein the radial curve is a portion of a circle and the orthopedic plate defines a segment of a cylinder.

52. The orthopedic plate as set forth in claim 44, wherein each arm of the pair of divergent arms includes a waist.

53. The orthopedic plate as set forth in claim 52, wherein the pair of divergent arms comprise a first arm and a second arm each having a linking section joined to the central trunk portion and the waist of the linking section of the first arm and of the second arm is configured to bend relative to the central trunk portion in response to a force applied to at least one of before or during surgery without deforming the threaded screw holes of the pair of divergent arms.

54. The orthopedic plate as set forth in claim 44, wherein the central trunk portion has a through hole.

55. The orthopedic plate as set forth in claim 54, wherein the central trunk portion has at least two through holes and a central trunk portion waist area between the through holes which encourages bending of the central trunk portion waist area in response to a force applied before or during surgery.

56. The orthopedic plate as set forth in claim 49, wherein the central trunk portion has a compression slot.

57. The orthopedic plate as set forth in claim 56, wherein the compression slot comprises a slot having an internal edge which includes a shoulder that slopes toward the inferior surface of the orthopedic plate as it extends away from the first end of the central trunk portion.

58. The orthopedic plate as set forth in claim 57, wherein the orthopedic plate has a superior surface of the central trunk portion which opposes the inferior surface of the plate in cross section, and the superior surface of the central trunk portion includes a visual indication of the direction in which the compression slot can be used to apply compression.

59. A plate system for use in bone comprising: a first locking screw and a second locking screw, and a bilaterally asymmetrical plate having an elongate central trunk with a medial longitudinal axis and at least one set of arms disposed at a terminal end of the plate, diverges asymmetrically away from the medial longitudinal axis relative to the other arm of the pair of arms, each arm of the asymmetrical pair including a threaded locking screw hole, and each of the threaded locking screw holes of the asymmetrical pair having one of the first locking screw and the second locking screw locked to the plate, wherein the central trunk defines a longitudinal curve and an inferior surface of the central trunk defines a radial curve extending in a radial direction, and wherein each arm of the asymmetrical pair includes an inferior curve extending in the radial direction.

60. The plate system as set forth in claim 59, wherein each of the first locking screw and the second locking screw have a proximal end and a distal end which extends from the orthopedic plate, and the distal ends of the screws converge toward each other, but do not impinge.

61. The plate system as set forth in claim 59, wherein one or both of the first locking screw and the second locking screw are variable locking screws.

62. The plate system as set forth in claim 59, wherein the orthopedic plate has mirror symmetry about a transverse axis.

63. The plate system as set forth in claim 59, wherein the orthopedic plate has only one set of arms and an outline that forms a Y-shape or the orthopedic plate has only two sets of terminal arms which are at either end of the elongate trunk and an outline that forms an X-shape.

64. The plate system as set forth in claim 59, wherein the radial curve of the central trunk portion defines a curve transverse to the medial longitudinal plane and the curve is a portion of a circle and the orthopedic plate defines a segment of a cylinder.

65. The plate system as set forth in claim 59, wherein each arm includes a linking section joining the arms to the elongate central trunk and each linking section has a waist and the waist of the linking section of the first arm and of the second arm is configured to bend relative to the elongate central trunk in response to a force applied at least to one of before or during surgery without deforming the threaded screw hole of the first or second arm.

66. The plate system as set forth in claim 59, wherein the elongate central trunk has a compression slot having an internal edge which includes a shoulder that slopes toward the inferior surface of the orthopedic plate as it extends away from the first end of the elongate central trunk.

67. A plate system for use in bone defining an axis and comprising: a first locking screw, and a second locking screw, and a plate having a trunk, and at least one pair of terminal arms wherein each terminal arm which diverges asymmetrically outward from the trunk relative to the other terminal arm of the pair of terminal arms and each of the terminal arms having a threaded locking hole which is in locked communication respectively with one of the first and the second locking screw, the plate being contoured in three dimensions so that the terminal arms spiral so as to wrap around the bone axis in a portion of a double helix extending through an arc of less than 50, wherein the trunk defines a longitudinal curve and an inferior surface of the trunk defines a radial curve extending in a radial direction, and wherein each arm of the pair of terminal arms includes an inferior curve extending in the radial direction.

68. The plate system as set forth in claim 67, wherein each of the first locking screw and the second locking screw have a proximal end and a distal end which extends from the plate, and the distal ends of the screws converge toward each other at the inferior surface of the plate, but do not impinge.

69. The plate system as set forth in claim 67, wherein one or both of the first locking screw and the second locking screw are variable locking screws.

70. The plate system as set forth in claim 67, wherein the plate defines a transverse axis and the plate has mirror symmetry about the transverse axis.

71. The plate system as set forth in claim 67, 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.

72. The plate system as set forth in claim 67, wherein the trunk defines a medial line and the radial curve is transverse to the medial line.

73. The plate system as set forth in claim 67, wherein the radial curve is constant along the medial line.

74. The plate system as set forth in claim 73, wherein the radial curve is a portion of a circle and the plate defines a segment of a cylinder.

75. The plate system as set forth in claim 67, wherein each terminal arm includes a linking section joining the terminal arms to the trunk and each linking section has a waist and the waist of the linking section of the first arm and of the second arm is configured to bend relative to the trunk in response to a force applied before or during surgery without deforming the threaded screw hole of that arm.

76. The plate system as set forth in claim 75, wherein the trunk has at least two through holes and a trunk waist area between the through-holes which encourages bending of the trunk waist area in response to a force applied before or during surgery.

77. The plate system as set forth in claim 76, wherein the trunk has a compression slot comprising a slot having an internal edge which includes a shoulder that slopes toward the inferior surface of the plate as it extends away from the first end of the trunk.

78. The plate system as set forth in claim 77, wherein the plate has a superior surface of the trunk which opposes the inferior surface of the plate in cross section and the superior surface of the trunk includes a visual indicator of the direction in which the compression slot can be used to apply compression.

79. The orthopedic as set forth in claim 67, wherein the plate has an outline consisting of the trunk, which is an elongate central trunk portion terminally branching at either one or two ends in the pair of terminal arms which are exactly two divergent arms, each arm having a rounded end linked to the central trunk through a waisted section having a length where one waisted section has a greater length for one arm of a pair than the second waisted section of a pair.

80. The orthopedic plate as set forth in claim 79, further including a first locking screw engaged in a locking screw hole of a first arm of a pair of divergent arms and a second locking screw engaged in a locking screw hole of a second arm of a pair of divergent arms.

81. The orthopedic plate as set forth in claim 80, wherein each of the first locking screw and the second locking screw have a proximal end and a distal end which extends from the plate, and the distal ends of the screws converge toward each other, but do not impinge.

82. The orthopedic plate as set forth in claim 80, wherein one or both of the first locking screw and the second locking screw are variable locking screws.

83. The orthopedic plate as set forth in claim 80, wherein the plate defines a transverse axis and the plate has mirror symmetry about the transverse axis.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] FIG. 1 is a top view of a first embodiment of an orthopedic plate in accordance with the invention;

[0018] FIG. 2 is a cross-section of the plate of FIG. 1 taken along line 2-2;

[0019] FIG. 3 is a cross-section of the plate of FIG. 1 taken along line 3-3;

[0020] FIG. 4 is a cross-section of the plate of FIG. 1 taken along line 4-4;

[0021] FIG. 5 is a cross section of the plate of FIG. 1 taken along line 5-5;

[0022] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a screw used with the present system;

[0023] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a locking screw used with the present invention;

[0024] FIG. 8 is a top view of a first version of a second embodiment of the plate in accordance with the invention;

[0025] FIG. 9 is a cross section of the plate of FIG. 8 taken along line 9-9;

[0026] FIG. 10 is a mirror version of the plate shown in FIG. 8;

[0027] FIG. 11 is a cross section of the plate of FIG. 10 taken along line 10-10;

[0028] FIG. 12 is an end perspective of a left version of a third embodiment of a plate in accordance with the invention for placement on the anterior aspect of a clavicle;

[0029] FIG. 13 is a top view of the plate of FIG. 12;

[0030] FIG. 14 is a right end view of the plate of FIG. 12;

[0031] FIG. 15 is a right side view of the plate of FIG. 12;

[0032] FIG. 16 is a cross section of the plate of FIG. 12 taken across the width of the plate;

[0033] FIG. 17 is view of the plate of FIG. 12 placed on a clavicle;

[0034] FIG. 18 is an end perspective of a left version of a fourth embodiment of a plate in accordance with the invention for placement on the anterior aspect of a clavicle;

[0035] FIG. 19 is a top view of the plate of FIG. 18;

[0036] FIG. 20 is a right end view of the plate of FIG. 18;

[0037] FIG. 21 is a right side view of the plate of FIG. 18;

[0038] FIG. 22 is a cross section of the plate of FIG. 18 taken along line 22-22;

[0039] FIG. 23 is view of the plate of FIG. 18 placed on a clavicle;

[0040] FIG. 24 is a top view of a left version of a fifth embodiment of a plate in accordance with the invention for placement on the anterior aspect of a clavicle;

[0041] FIG. 25 is an end perspective of the plate of FIG. 24;

[0042] FIG. 26 is a right end view of the plate of FIG. 24;

[0043] FIG. 27 is a right side view of the plate of FIG. 24;

[0044] FIG. 28 is a cross section of the plate of FIG. 24 taken along line 28-28;

[0045] FIG. 29 is view of the plate of FIG. 24 placed on a clavicle;

[0046] FIG. 30 is an end perspective of a left version of a sixth embodiment of a plate in accordance with the invention for placement on the superior aspect of a clavicle;

[0047] FIG. 31 is a top view of the plate of FIG. 30;

[0048] FIG. 32 is a right end view of the plate of FIG. 30;

[0049] FIG. 33 is a right side view of the plate of FIG. 31;

[0050] FIG. 34 is a cross section of the plate of FIG. 30 taken along line 34-34;

[0051] FIG. 35 is view of the plate of FIG. 30 placed on a clavicle;

[0052] FIG. 36 is an end perspective of a left version of a seventh embodiment of a plate in accordance with the invention for placement on the superior aspect of a clavicle;

[0053] FIG. 37 is a top view of the plate of FIG. 36;

[0054] FIG. 38 is a right end view of the plate of FIG. 36;

[0055] FIG. 39 is a right side view of the plate of FIG. 36;

[0056] FIG. 40 is a cross section of the plate of FIG. 36 taken along line 40-40;

[0057] FIG. 41 is view of the plate of FIG. 36 placed on a clavicle;

[0058] FIG. 42 is an end perspective of a left version of an eighth embodiment of a plate in accordance with the invention for placement on the lateral aspect of a clavicle;

[0059] FIG. 43 is a top view of the plate of FIG. 42;

[0060] FIG. 44 right end view of the plate of FIG. 42;

[0061] FIG. 45 is a right side view of the plate of FIG. 42;

[0062] FIG. 46 is an right end view of the plate of FIG. 42; and

[0063] FIG. 47 is a view of the plate of FIG. 42 placed on a clavicle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0064] The plate 10 of the present invention is shown having a bilaterally asymmetric shape with either one or two pairs of legs extending from a central trunk portion 12 defining the longitudinal axis of the plate. As shown the trunk portion 12 includes two screw holes or slots 14 along the longitudinal axis. However, as can be seen from FIGS. 12 through 18 the plate can be presented in a version which has a plurality of screw holes, for example up to 8 or more. The number of screw holes in the trunk portion 12 will depend on the length of the plate, and may range from 0 to 8, and more preferably from 2 to 4. In one embodiment these holes are compression holes or translation slots. The compression holes 14 are preferably slotted or elongated and optionally may have a larger radius area 11 on each of the screw holes facing in the same direction, and a smaller radius area 13 in order to induce a compression toward the smaller radius end. The holes may also or alternatively have a shallow shoulder or lip 18 which descends toward the inferior surface of the plate to allow the plate to be set initially and subsequently to be slide into a different position as the screws are tightened down. This allows compression to be applied across the middle of the trunk section. The plates include a visual indicator of the direction of the compression, such as an arrow 17. Further, the screw holes can include annular rings of increased thickness in the vertical direction about through holes 14.

[0065] The through holes 14 in the trunk portion 12 have a longitudinal axis that is perpendicular to plane tangent to the top radius of the plate. The area linking the screw holes has a decreased width so as to define a waist area 26 that will bend laterally (or curve) relative to the longitudinal axis and which will bend longitudinally to form a curved area in and out of the plane of the plate. This thinner area also facilitates twisting of the plate so as to allow the plate to spiral, or wrap around it longitudinal axis. The increased annular area around the through bores resists deformation when a bending device is used to apply a force to the plate through the screw holes.

[0066] The plate 10 also includes at least one set of arms 20. As viewed in FIG. 1, these sets of arms can be viewed as a set of a short 22 and a long arm 23. Each of the arms in a set includes screw holes 24 which are placed at a radially equal distance but which diverging asymmetrically from the longitudinal axis of the plate 10. More specifically, each set of arms includes one arm that defines a smaller angle of divergence a from the longitudinal axis of the trunk portion than the angle of divergence of the other arm . For example, the first angle shown in FIG. 1 at a may be from about 5 to about to 25, and more preferably from about 10 to about to 20 and most preferably from about 12 to about to 16, while the second angle shown at from about 10 to about to 35, and more preferably from about 15 to about to 30 and most preferably from about 22 to about to 26 with a preferred difference in the angles beings from about 2 to about to 20, and more preferably from about 4 to about to 16 and most preferably from about 8 to about to 12.

[0067] In addition to the angled arms of this asymmetrical shape facilitating a variety of useful positions in the small bone area, the plate of the present invention is sized to fit the needs of the small bone specialist. For small bone usage, the total length of the plate along its longitudinal axis is from about 25 mm to about 80 mm, depending on the number of screw holes in the trunk portion. The total width is from about 12 mm to about 18 mm, with an inferior radius of curvature of about 8 mm to about 12 mm and a concentric radius on the superior side. Typically, the waist area measures from about 7.5 mm to about 10 mm from the center of the larger, i.e. about 3.8 mm, radiused portion of the holes. The trunk portion has a width of about 7 mm to about 9 mm wide at the wider parts and about 3 mm to about 5 mm wide at the narrower waist portion. The longer arm has a length along the longitudinal axis of the plate from the center of the screw hole to the center of the plate for a two-hole trunk of from about 12 mm to about 16 mm, with a width of about 3 mm to about 5 mm. The shorter arm has a comparable length of from about 7 mm to about 15 mm with a narrowed width of about 2.5 to about 5 mm. In a further embodiment the plate could be modified for use in the long bones with a length of up to about 400 mm with a width of up to about 50 mm, and proportional sizes for the arms and thickness.

[0068] On the inferior side, or the side that would be facing (which contemplates opposing or touching or partially touching) the bone surface in use, the arms continue the radius of curvature of the trunk portion. The superior or top side of the plate has a similar radius of curvature as the top surface of the plate has an outline that corresponds with the shape of the bottom of the plate (excluding the optional thickened annular area surrounding the screw holes which would act to shield these holes against deformation during bending.) The screw holes also include a rounded concavity to mate with the rounded shape of the head of the screw to allow of variable axis positioning. The screw holes 24 are placed with the longitudinal axis perpendicular a tangent to the top surface of the arm with the effect that the longitudinal axes of the screws converge in the direction of the distil end. This increases the pull-out strength of the plate/screw construct. Since the arms are asymmetrical relative to each other, and in particular since they diverge from the longitudinal axis of the trunk portion at differing angles, conflicts in the positions of paired screws is avoided so that the screws of a set of arms typically do not impinge on each other. This is even more important in instances where the plate is bent around the longitudinal axis so as to wrap around the longitudinal axis of the bone.

[0069] The arms 20 also each include a screw hole 24 which, like the trunk portion 12 has a linking portion 26 that joins the screw hole to the trunk portion. Again this design facilitates the desired bending while resisting deformation of the screw holes 24 when they are used with the bending instrument to contour the plate. The angle of the arms 20 of each one of a pair of arms (both top and bottom and right and left pairs) varies so as to create a bilateral asymmetry, meaning that the plate is not symmetrical with respect to a plane that passes through the longitudinal axis in the vertical direction from the superior (the top side relative to the bone) to the inferior side (the side facing the bone), the first plane.

[0070] The screws holes of the trunk portion can include means to induce a compressive force in one direction, such as a ramped area on each screw hole. These ramped areas would be ramped on the same side of the holes looking down from the top of the plate. Typically the first screw implanted stabilizes and the second screw is used to achieve compression. Further the length of each of the arms of a pair will vary so that the radial length of the center of the screw hole to the intersection with the longitudinal axis will be the same. As shown in FIGS. 3-5, the plate includes a radial curve about the longitudinal axis. The radius is typically about 10 mm with a transverse dimension from the edge of one arm to the edge of the other arm of a pair being about 15 or 16 mm for typical small bone usage, and the screw bore having a longitudinal axis of about 24 to a plane passing through the longitudinal axis of the plate. The bores are typically about 3.75 mm for a 3.5 mm diameter screw for small bones excluding the smallest of applications which would include phalanges. Again, for the smallest application as well as long bone embodiments the screws and corresponding screw holes could be sized to range from a 1.5 mm diameter screw up to a 7.5 mm diameter screw. In a further embodiment, the bore could be threaded.

[0071] FIG. 6 shows a screw 81 which could be used with the plate system of the present invention. The distil end of the screw can include a cutting tip which is self-starting and self-tapping or a rounded blunt tip. This aspect is defined by a conical recess and a plurality of flutes. These screws 81 can optionally include partial or full cannulation. The head of the screw 82 is spherical and includes a torque driving recess, such as a modified multilobe shape. The screw has a cancelleous thread 83 with a constant major diameter and a minor diameter that tapers proximally in order to increase fatigue life of the screw and to improve compression and compensate for bone resorption. FIG. 7 shows a locking screw 86 which could be used with the present invention. The screw includes the same features as the screw in FIG. 6, except that the screw further includes external threads 88 on the screw head.

[0072] FIGS. 8 through 11 show a second embodiment of a plate in accordance with the present invention in which the plate shown in FIG. 10 is a mirror image of the plate shown in FIG. 8. In this embodiment, the plate 71, 71 has a Y-shape with an elongate and cylindrical central trunk having a single pair of arms 72, 72 extending as previously described from the a trunk portion 73, 73. The trunk portion optionally has one or more compression slots 74,74.

[0073] FIGS. 12 through 17 show an embodiment of the present invention for placement on an anterior aspect of a left clavicle with the version for the right clavicle being a mirror image. This embodiment of the plate 210 has a profile having a central trunk 212 with two sets of terminal arms 220 similar to the plates shown in FIGS. 1-5 except that the short arms extend away from the same side of the trunk relative to the medial line. Thus, the plate forms an X with two short arms 213 on the same side and two longs arms 214 on the same side and the elongate central trunk 212 bridging the span between each terminal set of arms. The central trunk includes a slight longitudinal curve, and the bottom 227 of the plate has a radial curve as can be seen in the end view of FIG. 14, and in the cross-section shown in FIG. 16. Thus, the plate forms a segment of a torroid. The trunk includes two translation slots 230, which are obround and in the middle of the plate and which are used for initial fixation and which subsequently allow for translation of the plate relative to that fixation. The plate further includes two screw holes 232 which are shown as locking holes having internal threads. These holes further include keyways 233 for the mating portion of a drill guide in order to set the pilot hole for a locking screw received in these holes.

[0074] The plate 210 has a two pairs of arms 220 that extend as previously described. Specifically, for each pair of arms, each of the first 213 and second arm 214 include a screw hole 235 which defines an axis of the screw (perpendicular to a tangent at the diameter of the screw hole) and the arms have a longitudinal axis which is a line intersecting the screw axis and the longitudinal axis of the central trunk. The arms spiral or wrap around in the same direction that the central trunk does. The screw holes 235 are preferably threaded locking holes, which also include keyways for a drill guide that sets the angle for the locking screw. For each arm, the longitudinal axis defines an angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the central trunk, and the angle is different for one arm than for the other arm in a terminal pair as is shown for the embodiment shown in FIG. 1. The plate demonstrates a mirror symmetry about the transverse plane since the two short arms have a corresponding angle, length and shape and the two long arms have a corresponding angle, length and shape.

[0075] As has been previously described, the pair of arms include an inferior curve in the same direction as the radial curve in the central trunk portion. The difference in the length and angles of the arms allows for multiplanar fixation and convergence of the screws (which are locking screws) while avoiding impingement of the screws with each other. Thus, the plate is designed to fit the lateral of the clavicle and the arms are designed wrap around the shaft of the bone. The plate is shown with a central trunk that includes two obround slots in the central trunk and two locking screw holes that include internal threads and keyways for a drill guide to set the angles for the screws. The plate also includes two terminal sets of arms each having a short arm and a long arm with the short arms on the same side for ease of insertion through the incision. The plate can have one or no slots and from 1 to 8 screw holes. FIG. 17 illustrates the placement of the plate on the anterior/inferior aspect in the mid-shaft portion of a clavicle.

[0076] FIGS. 18-29 show two slightly different embodiments of the plate of the present invention which vary according to the length of the elongate central trunk and accordingly, to the number of screw holes in this section of the plate. However, in both versions, the plate 310, 310 has a y-shaped footprint which comprises an elongate central trunk 312, 312 having a medial line and along the medial line, through holes, (which can either be slots 316, 316 such as compression slots or translation slots) and/or screw holes 317, 317 (which can either be smooth for variable locking or threaded for locking holes). In these embodiments, the holes of the central body are aligned with their centers along a straight medial line (or in this instance a plane), which divides the plates in two lateral halves. The area between the through holes curves inward toward the medial line to allow the plate to be further contoured without deforming the holes.

[0077] One end of the central trunk includes a single pair of arms 320, 320 with a longer arm extending at a first angle from the medial line of the plate and having a shorter length than the second arm which extends from the plate at a second angle and has a longer length. The arms include a rounded portion 324, 324 that defines a portion of a circle and has a linking area that has a smaller width than the diameter of the circle. Each rounded portion includes a screw hole 326, 326 may advantageously include internal threads 328, 328 and keyway grooves 329, 329 for a drill guide. These embodiments of the plates are provided in a first version having five locking holes 317, in the central trunk and three obround translation slots 316. The translation slots 316 may include contouring with in the lateral edges of the slot that are convex to receive the rear shoulder or rounded portion of the screw in order to cause the screw to seat in the plate perpendicularly to the medial line. The plate is provided in a right and a left version and the left version is illustrated in the figures. In this version, the plate is curved along the medial line transverse to the medial line as can be seen in FIGS. 20 and 22. The plate also includes a larger contouring which is like the shape of a fishtail in that it bows gently from the end with the pair of arms in a first direction for approximately the first to 9/10 of the length of the plate, and then curves more sharply in the opposite direction along the z axis.

[0078] In the longer version of this plate 310, the plate includes four obround translation slots 316 which are in the center between three locking screw holes 317 at the end with the arm 320 and four locking screw holes 317 at the other end of the central trunk. This plate has similar contouring to the shorter version of this plate, with a radius on the bottom and a fishtail curve with a longer, and shallower curve which defines a curve that bows in a first direction from the arms through the second of the second set of locking holes, and the plate including the last two locking holes defines a curve in the opposite direction. Both of these plates are designed for placement on the middle portion of a clavicle and the choice between the two versions depends on the placement and nature of the fracture involved.

[0079] FIGS. 30 through 41 illustrate plates that are intended for use on the superior aspect of the clavicle. Again, left versions are shown, with the right version being mirror images of the left version. These plates 410, 410 have elongate central trunk portions 412, 412 with two opposing pairs of arms 420, 420. Each of the first 413, 413 and second arm 414, 414 of a pair of arms 420, 420 include a screw hole 435, 435 which defines an axis of the screw (perpendicular to a tangent at the diameter of the screw hole) and the arms have a longitudinal axis which is a line intersecting the screw axis and the longitudinal axis of the central trunk as medial as possible to the arm. The arms spiral or wrap around in the same direction that the central trunk does. The screw holes 435, 435 are preferably threaded locking holes, which also include keyways for a drill guide that sets the angle for the locking screw. For each arm, the longitudinal axis defines an angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the central trunk, and the angle is different for one arm than for the other arm as is shown for the embodiment shown in FIG. 1. The plates demonstrate a mirror symmetry about the transverse plane since the two short arms have a corresponding angle, length and shape and the two long arms have a corresponding angle, length and shape.

[0080] The central trunk in the two versions shown in FIGS. 30-41, (with the shorter version shown in FIGS. 30-35 and the longer version shown in FIGS. 36-41,) varies by the length and accordingly by the number of through holes in the trunk. In the shorter version, there are two translation slots 416 that are aligned along the medial line and are flanked by a first locking screw hole 417 and a last locking screw hole 417. This area of the plate also includes curves between the screw hole that allow the plate to be contoured without bending the through holes. The plate had a shallow longitudinal C curve in the direction away from the shorter arm side of the plate. The bottom side 427 of the plate also includes a radius to better accommodate the shape of the bone.

[0081] The version of the plate shown in FIGS. 36-41 has a longer central trunk 412 which includes four translation slots 416 aligned along the medial line and flanked by two locking screw holes 417. Again, the central trunk portion of the plate curves gently in the direction of the shorter arms and the bottom 427 of the plate includes a radius. FIG. 35 shows the placement of the shorter plate on the inferior spine of a clavicle.

[0082] FIGS. 43-47 illustrate a plate for use on the lateral aspect of the clavicle. This plate 510 has an x-shaped profile, with an elongate central trunk and a first pair of arms 520 which extend at different angles and for different lengths from the trunk and further which include a curve on the bottom side so that the arms spiral around the bone and the screws that are placed in screw holes 535 in the arms provide for multiplanar fixation and do not impinge on each other. The central trunk includes two translation slots 516 and two locking screw holes 517 in the proximal end of the plate (Le. adjacent to the end with the pair of arms 520). The other end of the plate includes a pair of arms 530 that differs from the other pairs in that there is a necked transition area 531 including screw holes 532 that are aligned with the terminal screw holes 533 in these arms. There is again a shorter arm 540 and a longer arm 541, which include threaded locking screw holes and keyway guide grooves. The plate has a shallow S shape along the medial line with the more proximal of the two translation slots marking the transition between the lobes of the S. The plate includes a bottom radius. FIG. 47 shows the plate in position on the distal portion of a clavicle.

[0083] While in accordance with the patent statutes, the best mode and preferred embodiment have been set forth, the scope of the invention is not limited thereto, but rather by the scope of the attached claims.