Patent ID: 11931084
Assignee: DEPUY SYNTHES PRODUCTS, INC.
Field: Medical technology (Instruments)
Classification: CPC A | IPC A

Claim 0:
1. An orthopedic fixation system, comprising:
an orthopedic implant transitionable between a natural shape and an insertion shape whereby a transition of the orthopedic implant from the natural shape to the insertion shape stores deliverable energy and a transition of the orthopedic implant from the insertion shape to the natural shape delivers stored energy, the orthopedic implant, comprising:
a bridge with a first end and a second end,
a transition section disposed in the bridge, whereby the transition section deforms to move the orthopedic implant between the natural shape and the insertion shape,
a first anchoring segment disposed at the first end of the bridge,
a second anchoring segment disposed at the second end of the bridge,
a first aperture extending through the bridge adjacent the transition section at a first side thereof, and
a second aperture extending through the bridge adjacent the transition section at a second side thereof; and

an implant retainer, configured to constrain the orthopedic implant in the insertion shape thereby preventing a transition of the orthopedic implant from the insertion shape to the natural shape, the implant retainer, comprising:
a first fastener,
a second fastener,
a retention block including a length between first and second ends thereof whereby the retention block fits atop the bridge of the orthopedic implant between the first and second anchoring segments of the orthopedic implant with the first end of the retention block interior of the first anchoring segment of the orthopedic implant and the second end of the retention block interior of the second anchoring segment of the orthopedic implant,
the retention block including a first hole therethrough adopted to receive the first fastener and a second hole therethrough adopted to receive the second fastener, the first hole and the second hole being spaced apart at a distance equal to the distance between the first aperture of the orthopedic implant and the second aperture of the orthopedic implant when the orthopedic implant resides in the insertion shape, and
the retention block, upon transition of the orthopedic implant from the natural shape to the insertion shape, being configured to span the transition section of the bridge when seated atop the bridge with the first hole of the retention block aligned with the first aperture of the bridge and the second hole of the retention block aligned with the second aperture of the bridge, whereby the first fastener inserts into the first hole of the retention block and extends into the first aperture and the second fastener inserts into the second hole of the retention block and extends into the second aperture thereby securing the retention block with the bridge across the transition section thereof, further whereby the retention block constrains the bridge and holds the orthopedic implant in the insertion shape thereby preventing a transition of the orthopedic implant from the insertion shape to the natural shape.