Patent ID: 7951176
Filing Date: 2011-05-31
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. A bone plate defining a longitudinal axis and comprising: an upper surface; a lower surface; a first hole for engaging a head of a first bone anchor, the first hole defining a single, non-variable axis and configured and adapted to fix a shaft of the first bone anchor at a single predetermined angle along the non-variable axis of the first hole; and a second hole spaced apart from the first hole along the longitudinal axis for engaging a head of a second bone anchor, the second hole defining a single, non-variable axis and configured and adapted to fix a shaft of the second bone anchor at a single predetermined angle along the non-variable axis of the second hole; wherein, the first hole and the second hole are configured such that the non-variable axis of the first hole and the non-variable axis of the second hole define a single plane and intersect at a point below the lower surface, defining an acute angle α at the point of intersection, wherein the first hole and the second hole are engineered and designed to have an orientation such that the acute angle α is not surgeon selectable but instead, the first and second holes are engineered and designed to have an orientation wherein intersection of the single non-variable axis of the first hole and the single non-variable axis of the second hole results in a single acute angle α determined during design of the bone plate.