Patent ID: 8784459
Filing Date: 2014-07-22
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. An orthopedic fusion system comprising: a plate that includes first and second holes and a first cavity connecting the first and second holes; a single-piece monolithic resilient member included in the first cavity, the resilient member including a first arm connected to a first end having a first fin and a second arm connected to a second end having a second fin; a screw including a lip, which is coupled to a beveled shoulder, and a toothed wheel having first and second teeth; wherein (a) the resilient member is seperably coupled to the plate and within the first cavity; (b) the first cavity includes first and second channels that respectively include first and second portions of the resilient member; (c) the first and second fins respectively project into the first and second holes; (d) the first fin has a first angled leading edge and a first curved trailing edge, the first angled leading edge of the first fin being non-orthogonally connected to the first arm; (e) the first tooth has a first angled leading edge and a first curved trailing edge, the first angled leading edge of the first tooth being non-orthogonal to a tangent intersecting the toothed wheel at a same point the first angled leading edge of the first tooth intersects the toothed wheel; and (f) the first fin is sized to be received between the first and second teeth of the toothed wheel; wherein the system is configured such that (g) in a partially implanted position the screw is inserted into the first hole and the beveled shoulder is actively deflecting the first fin medially towards the first cavity; and (h) in a fully implanted position (1) the screw is inserted into the first hole such that the screw is prevented from backing out of the first hole by the first fin that has snapped back into the first hole to intercept the lip when the screws travels axially away from patient bone in which it is implanted and (2) the toothed wheel is allowed to rotate but is prevented from counter-rotating because the first curved trailing edge of the first fin is lodged against the first trailing edge of the first tooth.