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A bone plate has an upper surface, a lower surface, and at least one first hole extending through the upper and lower surfaces. The first hole has two or three vertically separate regions, each region communicating with or abutting an adjacent region. The first hole has a first unthreaded upper regi

A bone plate has an upper surface, a lower surface, and at least one first hole extending through the upper and lower surfaces. The first hole has two or three vertically separate regions, each region communicating with or abutting an adjacent region. The first hole has a first unthreaded upper region, which has a curved inward taper from the plate's upper surface toward the plate's lower surface. The first hole has a second threaded middle region, which has a conical inward taper from the plate's upper surface toward the plate's lower surface. A third unthreaded lower region has a conical outward taper from the plate's upper surface toward the plate's lower surface. The bone plate may be straight, curved, or include a combination of both straight and curved segments.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A bone plate comprising a monolithic plate body having an upper surface and a lower surface, the monolithic plate body including a first hole extending therethrough from the upper surface to the lower surface, the hole including three regions separated from one another along

What is claimed is: 1. A bone plate comprising a monolithic plate body having an upper surface and a lower surface, the monolithic plate body including a first hole extending therethrough from the upper surface to the lower surface, the hole including three regions separated from one another along a length of the first hole, first and third regions of the first hole being non-threaded, and a second middle region of the hole between the first and third regions including threading formed in a portion of the monolithic plate body forming a wall of the second region of the hole, the threaded second region being configured and dimensioned to lock a mating fastener therein along a single, fixed first hole axis wherein the second region is, in a direction from the upper surface to the lower surface, conically tapered inward, wherein the first region has, in a direction from the upper surface to the lower surface, an inward taper that is present around the axis of the hole. 2. The bone plate of claim 1, wherein the first region and the second region are in communication with one another. 3. The bone plate of claim 2, wherein a point of the first region nearest the lower surface abuts a point of the second region nearest the upper surface. 4. The bone plate of claim 1, wherein the first region is substantially smooth. 5. The bone plate of claim 1, wherein the inward taper is curved. 6. The bone plate of claim 5, wherein the curved inward taper is spherical. 7. The bone plate of claim 1, wherein the first hole has a substantially circular cross section with a diameter. 8. The bone plate of claim 7, wherein the diameter of the circular cross section varies along the first hole axis. 9. The bone plate of claim 1, wherein the second region conically tapers at a cone angle of between about 5° and 15°. 10. The bone plate of claim 1, wherein a maximum diameter of the first region is greater than a maximum diameter of the second region. 11. The bone plate of claim 1, wherein a minimum diameter of the first region is substantially equal to a maximum diameter of the second region. 12. The bone plate of claim 1, wherein the third region communicates with the second region. 13. The bone plate of claim 12, wherein a point of the second region nearest the lower surface abuts a point of the third region nearest the upper surface. 14. The bone plate of claim 13, wherein the third region is non-threaded. 15. The bone plate of claim 14, wherein the third region is substantially smooth. 16. The bone plate of claim 14, wherein the third region is, in a direction from the upper surface to the lower surface, tapered outward. 17. The bone plate of claim 16, wherein the outward taper of the third region is conical. 18. The bone plate of claim 16, wherein the third region conically tapers at a cone angle of between about 40° and 50°. 19. The bone plate of claim 16, wherein a maximum diameter of the third region is greater than a maximum diameter of the second region. 20. The bone plate of claim 16, wherein a minimum diameter of the third region is substantially equal to a minimum diameter of the second region. 21. The bone plate of claim 16, wherein a maximum diameter of the third region is substantially equal to a maximum diameter of the upper region. 22. The bone plate of claim 1, further comprising a second hole, different from the first hole, formed in the monolithic plate body. 23. The bone plate of claim 22, wherein the second hole is elongated in a direction substantially parallel to a plane containing the upper surface of the plate and extends through the upper and lower surfaces. 24. The bone plate of claim 23, wherein the second hole is non-threaded and has an outer perimeter, at least a portion of the outer perimeter tapering inward from the upper surface to the lower surface of the plate to form at least one ramp surface for engagement with a head of a mating fastener inserted therethrough. 25. The bone plate of claim 23, the second hole having a center point and wherein the second hole includes a threaded portion and a non-threaded portion, and the threaded portion extends through an angle of between about 190° and about 280° with respect to the center point. 26. The bone plate of claim 23, wherein the plate body defines a longitudinal axis, and the second hole is elongated in a direction that is substantially aligned with the longitudinal axis. 27. The bone plate of claim 26, wherein the plate comprises at least two first holes and at least two second holes. 28. The bone plate of claim 1, wherein the bone plate extends along a longitudinal axis. 29. The bone plate of claim 28, wherein the bone plate has a straight portion extending along the longitudinal axis and a first curved portion at a first end thereof. 30. The bone plate of claim 29, wherein the plate includes a first end and a second end substantially opposite the first end, the plate including a second curved portion at the second end with the straight portion located between the first and second curved portions. 31. The bone plate of claim 30, wherein the first curved portion has a radius of curvature between about 40 mm and about 60 mm. 32. The bone plate of claim 30, wherein two second holes are located adjacent to one another in the straight portion. 33. The bone plate of claim 32, wherein a first one of the first holes is located on the first curved portion, and a second one of the first holes is located on the second curved portion proximate the second end of the plate. 34. The bone plate of claim 33, wherein the first one of the first holes is located adjacent to a first one of the second holes. 35. The bone plate of claim 34, wherein the first one of the first holes and the first one of the second holes are separated by a distance of about 12° to about 18° on the curved portion. 36. The bone plate of claim 34, wherein the first one of the first holes is located adjacent to a second one of the first holes. 37. The bone plate of claim 36, wherein the first one of the first holes and the second one of the first holes are separated by a distance of about 12° to about 18° on the curved portion. 38. The bone plate of claim 1, wherein the first hole axis of the first hole is not parallel to a perpendicular axis of the first hole extending through the plate substantially perpendicular to the upper surface. 39. The bone plate of claim 38, wherein the first hole axis and the perpendicular axis intersect at an angle of between about 4° and 10°. 40. The bone plate of claim 38, wherein the first hole axis and perpendicular axis intersect at an angle of between about 13° and 17°. 41. The bone plate of claim 1, wherein the plate includes a plurality of first holes, the first hole axis of a first one of the first holes being non-parallel to the perpendicular axis of the first hole and extending at a first angle relative thereto, the first hole axis of a second one of the first holes being non-parallel to the perpendicular axis of the second first hole and extending at a second angle relative to the second hole perpendicular axis different from the first angle. 42. The bone plate of claim 41, wherein the first angle is between about 4° and 10° and the second angle is between about 13° and 17°. 43. The bone plate of claim 1, wherein a plurality of first holes are located along the longitudinal axis of the plate. 44. The bone plate of claim 43, wherein the plate is substantially straight. 45. The bone plate of claim 43, wherein the plate is curved, having a radius of curvature between about 80 mm to about 140 mm. 46. A bone plate system comprising: a bone plate formed as a monolithic plate body with an upper surface and a lower surface including a first hole extending therethrough from the upper surface to the lower surface, the first hole including three regions separated from one another along a length of the first hole, first and third regions of the first hole being non-threaded, and a second middle region of the hole between the first and third regions including threading formed in a portion of the monolithic plate body forming a wall of the second region of the first hole, the threaded second region being configured and dimensioned to lock a mating fastener therein along a single, fixed first hole axis, wherein the second region is, in a direction from the upper surface to the lower surface, conically tapered inward and the third region is, in a direction from the upper surface to the lower surface, tapered outward, wherein the first region has, in a direction from the upper surface to the lower surface, a curved inward taper that is present around the axis of the first hole; and a fastener to fasten the bone plate to a bone. 47. The bone plate of claim 46, wherein the first hole has a substantially circular cross section with a diameter. 48. The bone plate of claim 47, wherein the diameter of the circular cross section varies along the first hole axis. 49. The bone plate of claim 46, wherein the second region conically tapers at a cone angle of between about 5° and 15°. 50. The bone plate of claim 46, wherein a point of the second region nearest the lower surface abuts a point of the third region nearest the upper surface. 51. The bone plate of claim 46, wherein the third region is substantially smooth. 52. The bone plate of claim 46, wherein the third region conically tapers at a cone angle of between about 40° and 50°. 53. The bone plate of claim 46, further comprising at least one second hole, different from the first hole, formed in the monolithic plate body. 54. The bone plate of claim 53, wherein the second hole is elongated in a direction substantially parallel to a plane containing the upper surface of the plate and extends through the upper and lower surfaces. 55. The bone plate of claim 54, wherein the second hole is non-threaded and has an outer perimeter, at least a portion of the outer perimeter tapering inward from the upper surface to the lower surface of the plate to form at least one ramp surface for engagement with a head of the at least one fastener. 56. The bone plate of claim 54, the second hole having a center point and wherein the second hole includes a threaded portion and a non-threaded portion, and the threaded portion extends through an angle of between about 190° and about 280° with respect to the center point. 57. The bone plate of claim 54, wherein the plate body defines a longitudinal axis, and the second hole is elongated in a direction that is substantially aligned with the longitudinal axis. 58. The bone plate of claim 57, wherein the plate comprises at least two first holes and at least two second holes. 59. The bone plate of claim 46, wherein the bone plate extends along a longitudinal axis. 60. The bone plate of claim 59, wherein the bone plate has a straight portion extending along the longitudinal axis and a first curved portion at a first end thereof. 61. The bone plate of claim 60, wherein the plate includes a first end and a second end substantially opposite the first end, the plate including a second curved portion at the second end with the straight portion located between the first and second curved portions. 62. The bone plate of claim 61, wherein the first curved portion has a radius of curvature of about 50 mm. 63. The bone plate of claim 62, wherein two second holes are located adjacent to one another in the straight portion. 64. The bone plate of claim 61, wherein a first one of the first holes is located on the first curved portion, and a second one of the first holes is located on the second curved portion proximate the second end of the plate. 65. The bone plate of claim 46, wherein the first hole axis is not parallel to a perpendicular axis extending through the plate substantially perpendicular to the upper surface. 66. The bone plate of claim 65, wherein the first hole axis and the perpendicular axis intersect at an angle of between about 4° and 10°. 67. The bone plate of claim 65, wherein the first hole axis and the perpendicular axis intersect at an angle of between about 13° and 17°. 68. The bone plate of claim 46, wherein the plate includes a plurality of first holes, the first hole axis of a first one of the first holes being non-parallel to the perpendicular axis of the first hole and extending at a first angle relative thereto, the first hole axis of a second one of the first holes being non-parallel to the perpendicular axis of the second first hole and extending at a second angle relative to the second hole perpendicular axis different from the first angle. 69. The bone plate of claim 68, wherein the first angle is between about 4° and 10° and the second angle is between about 13° and 17°. 70. The bone plate of claim 46, wherein a plurality of first holes are located along the longitudinal axis of the plate. 71. The bone plate of claim 70, wherein the plate is substantially straight. 72. The bone plate of claim 70, wherein the plate is curved. 73. The bone plate of claim 72, wherein the plate is curved at a radius between about 80 mm to about 140 mm.