Patent ID: 6527776
Filing Date: 2003-03-04
Classification: A61B,A61F,Y10S

Abstract:
An orthopedic system having a locking element for use with an orthopedic device having at least two bone screw receiving holes extending through at least a portion of the orthopedic device, each of the bone screw receiving holes being adapted to receive a bone screw for engaging the orthopedic device to bone of the human skeleton, said locking element comprising:a lower facing surface adapted to be oriented toward the orthopedic device, an opposite upper facing surface, and a thickness therebetween, said locking element having outer edges forming a perimeter and an axis of rotation passing through said upper facing surface and said lower facing surface, a first dimension and a second dimension as measured from one of said edges to another one of said edges across said upper surface and through said axis of rotation, said second dimension being greater than said first dimension; and said locking element being configured to be coupled to the orthopedic device and being adapted to retain at least two bone screws inserted in the bone screw receiving holes, respectively, said locking element being moveable from an initial position to a final position, said locking element when in said initial position having said first dimension oriented toward at least one of the bone screw receiving holes so as to permit the insertion of at least one bone screw into the bone screw receiving holes, said locking element when in said final position having said second dimension oriented toward at least one of the bone screw receiving holes so as to block movement of at least two bone screws inserted into at least two of the bone screw receiving holes, respectively, in a direction opposite to the direction of insertion of the bone screws into the bone screw receiving holes.