Patent ID: 6780186
Filing Date: 2004-08-24
Classification: A61B,A61F

Abstract:
A polyaxial locking screw plate assembly comprising:a plate having a plurality of through holes, at least one said through holes being elongated in the plane of the plate and including opposing tapered side walls; a corresponding at least one coupling element, said at least one coupling element including a central hole for receiving a screw therethrough and opposing tapered exterior surfaces such that said at least one coupling element may initially slide along an elongate axis of said corresponding elongate through hole when said coupling element is loosely nested therein; and at least one corresponding screw having a head portion and a shaft portion, said shaft portion being insertable through the corresponding central hole in said corresponding at least one coupling element, and said head portion being larger than necessary to travel through the central hole in the coupling element such that advancement of said shaft portion through said central hole causes the head portion to engage the coupling element and to cause the coupling element to be driven into the corresponding through hole of the plate such that the coupling element and the plate are crush locked together be virtue of their mutual tapers.