초록 ▼

A fixation system includes a plate comprising at least one fixation hole comprising an undercut therein, and at least one passage intersecting one of the undercuts. At least one resilient clip is disposed in at least a portion of the undercut, with the at least one clip having a pair of generally pa

A fixation system includes a plate comprising at least one fixation hole comprising an undercut therein, and at least one passage intersecting one of the undercuts. At least one resilient clip is disposed in at least a portion of the undercut, with the at least one clip having a pair of generally parallel sides and an end tab. At least one fastener is provided and comprises a head and a threaded shaft, with the head comprising a perimetral groove extending around at least a portion thereof and an instrument receiving portion. The at least one clip is configured and dimensioned to seat in the undercut with the end tab extending within the passage, and the at least one fastener is configured and dimensioned to be received in the at least one fixation hole and securable therein when the at least one clip abuts the perimetral groove of the head.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A fixation system comprising: a plate comprising at least one fixation hole; at least one resilient clip disposed within the fixation hole, wherein the clip is separate and distinct from and operatively associated with the plate; and at least one fastener comprising a head an

What is claimed is: 1. A fixation system comprising: a plate comprising at least one fixation hole; at least one resilient clip disposed within the fixation hole, wherein the clip is separate and distinct from and operatively associated with the plate; and at least one fastener comprising a head and a threaded shaft, the head comprising an upper portion, a lower portion and a perimetral groove disposed between the upper portion and the lower portion, the perimetral groove having an upper surface, a lower surface and a side surface wherein the upper surface tapers inward from the upper portion toward the side surface of the perimetral groove and the lower surface tapers inward from the lower portion toward the side surface of the perimetral groove; wherein the clip is receivable within at least a portion of the perimetral groove and permits the fastener to angulate relative to the clip when the at least one fastener is received within the fixation hole. 2. A fixation system comprising: a plate comprising a top surface, a bottom surface, a central longitudinal axis, at least one fixation hole extending between the top and bottom surfaces and comprising an undercut therein; at least one resilient clip disposed in at least a portion of the undercut, the at least one clip having sides with generally parallel inner and outer surfaces and an end tab, wherein the at least one clip is separate and distinct from and operatively associated with the plate; at least one fastener comprising a head and a threaded shaft, the head comprising an upper portion, a lower portion, an instrument receiving portion and a perimetral groove formed in the upper portion of the head, the perimetral groove having an upper surface, a lower surface and a side surface wherein the perimetral groove extends around at least a portion of the head, wherein the upper surface of the perimetral groove tapers inward from the upper portion toward the side surface of the perimetral groove and the lower surface of the perimetral groove tapers inward from the lower portion toward the side surface of the perimetral groove; and wherein the at least one clip is configured and dimensioned to be received in the undercut, and wherein the clip and the perimetral groove of the fastener are configured via the geometry of the upper portion and lower portion of the head and the upper, lower and side surfaces of the perimetral groove to allow the fastener to toggle relative to the clip, and the at least one fastener is configured via the geometry of the upper portion and lower portion of the head to be received in the at least one fixation hole and securable therein when the at least one clip extends into at least a portion of the perimetral groove of the head. 3. The fixation system of claim 2, further comprising a slot extending through the central longitudinal axis of the plate. 4. The fixation system of claim 3, wherein the slot is aligned along the central longitudinal axis. 5. The fixation system of claim 3, wherein the slot comprises a dog-bone shape. 6. The fixation system of claim 3, wherein the slot comprises a pair of overlapping circular shapes. 7. The fixation system of claim 1, wherein the at least one passage extends transverse to the at least one fixation hole. 8. The fixation system of claim 1, wherein a portion of the undercut of the plate is disposed closer to the top surface than the bottom surface. 9. The fixation system of claim 1, wherein the undercut of the plate extends completely around the at least one fixation hole. 10. The fixation system of claim 1, wherein the at least one fixation hole further comprises a lower portion disposed between the bottom surface and the undercut, the lower portion tapering toward a central axis of the fixation hole as the lower portion extends from the undercut to the bottom surface. 11. The fixation system of claim 10, wherein the lower portion has a first maximum inner dimension and the undercut has a second maximum inner dimension, wherein the first maximum inner dimension is less than the second maximum inner dimension. 12. The fixation system of claim 10, wherein the head of the fastener further comprises a tapered portion disposed between the threaded shaft and the perimetral groove, the tapered portion tapering toward a central axis of the fastener as the tapered portion extends from the perimetral groove to the threaded shaft. 13. The fixation system of claim 10, wherein the taper of the lower portion is semispherical. 14. The fixation system of claim 1, wherein at least one fixation hole has a generally circular cross-section. 15. The fixation system of claim 1, wherein the at least one fixation hole is comprised of at least two pairs of fixation holes. 16. The fixation system of claim 1, wherein the instrument receiving portion of the head of the at least one fastener intersects the perimetral groove in at least one location. 17. The fixation system of claim 1, wherein the instrument receiving portion of the head of the at least one fastener intersects the perimetral groove in at least two locations. 18. The fixation system of claim 1, wherein the instrument receiving portion of the head of the at least one fastener intersects the perimetral groove in at least four locations. 19. The fixation system of claim 1, wherein the instrument receiving portion of the head of the at least one fastener comprises two substantially perpendicular slots. 20. The fixation system of claim 1, wherein the clip is generally wishbone-shaped. 21. The fixation system of claim 1, wherein the clip comprises a generally circular portion. 22. The fixation system of claim 1, wherein the clip comprises a generally arcuate portion. 23. The fixation system of claim 1, wherein the undercut is sized to retain the clip at least partially therein while permitting expansion thereof. 24. The fixation system of claim 1, wherein the at least one fixation hole comprises at least two pairs of fixation holes, and wherein at least one of the pairs of fixation holes is configured and dimensioned to permit toggling of fasteners disposed therein. 25. The fixation system of claim 1, wherein the head of the fastener is configured and dimensioned for coupling to the plate at a fixed angle. 26. The fixation system of claim 1, wherein the clip includes a slit. 27. The fixation system of claim 1, wherein the upper surface and lower surface are disposed at an angle between about 10° and about 70° with respect to each other. 28. The fixation system of claim 1, wherein the upper surface and the lower surface of the perimetral groove are disposed at an angle between about 30° and about 50° with respect to each other. 29. The fixation system of claim 1, wherein the upper surface and the lower surface are aligned at an angle of about 40° with respect to each other. 30. The fixation system of claim 1, wherein the clip is configured and dimensioned to slide in the undercut. 31. The fixation system of claim 1, wherein the clip is configured and dimensioned to be fixed and stationary in the undercut. 32. The fixation system of claim 1, wherein at least one surface of the head comprises roughening for interacting with the clip. 33. The fixation system of claim 32, wherein the roughening comprises steps. 34. The fixation system of claim 1, wherein the at least one resilient clip is configured and dimensioned to permit toggling through a greater angular range in a cephalad-caudal direction of the plate than in a medial-lateral direction of the plate. 35. The fixation system of claim 1, wherein the at least one resilient clip is configured and dimensioned to permit toggling of the at least one fastener through a greater angular range in a cephalad-caudal direction of the plate than in other directions of the plate. 36. The fixation system of claim 35, wherein toggling of the at least one fastener is permitted through an angle between about 0° and about 32° along a plane extending parallel to the central longitudinal axis of the plate. 37. The fixation system of claim 35, wherein toggling of the at least one fastener is permitted through an angle between about 0° and about 20° along a plane extending perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis of the plate. 38. A fixation system comprising: a plate comprising a top surface, a bottom surface, a central longitudinal axis, a slot extending through and aligned along the central longitudinal axis, at least two pairs of fixation holes, each of the fixation holes extending between the top and bottom surfaces and comprising an undercut therein; a resilient clip disposed in at least one of the undercuts, the clip being separate and distinct from the plate, operatively associated with the plate and having sides with substantially parallel inner and outer surfaces and an end tab; and at least one fastener comprising a head and a threaded shaft, the head comprising an upper portion, a lower portion, an outer perimeter, and a perimetral groove between the upper portion and the lower portion of the head, the perimetral groove having an upper surface, a lower surface, and a side surface, wherein the perimetral groove, extends around at least a portion of the outer perimeter and an instrument receiving portion that at least partially intersects the groove, and the upper surface of the perimetral groove tapers inward from the upper portion toward the side surface of the perimetral groove and the lower surface of the perimetral groove tapers inward from the lower portion toward the side surface of the perimetral groove; wherein the clip is configured and dimensioned to seat in the undercut, and wherein the clip and the perimetral groove of the fastener are configured via the dimensions of the upper and lower portions of the head to allow the fastener to toggle relative to the clip, and the at least one fastener is configured and dimensioned via the dimensions of the upper, lower and side surfaces of the perimetral groove to be received in one of the fixation holes and securable therein when the clip extends into at least a portion of the perimetral groove of the head.