Patent ID: 7452370
Filing Date: 2008-11-18
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. A medical implant using a bone anchor for attachment of the medical implant to a boney element, the medical implant comprising: a bone plate having an aperture therethrough, said aperture adapted to receive at least a portion of said bone anchor, wherein said bone plate includes a seat extending in a first direction transversely to and away from said aperture into said bone plate; a retention mechanism coupled to said bone plate, said retention mechanism comprising a retainer and a biasing member adapted to be operatively engaged with at least said retainer; said retainer moveable to and from at least a first position and a second position, said first position allowing said bone plate to receive said bone anchor in said aperture, said second position allowing said retention mechanism to retain said bone anchor in said bone plate, wherein said retainer moves linearly in said seat in said first direction and opposite said first direction between said first and second positions with said biasing member normally biasing said retainer to said second position, wherein insertion of said bone anchor in said aperture causes said retainer to linearly move in said first direction from said second position to said first position and elastically deform said biasing member, and wherein said biasing member causes said retainer to linearly move opposite said first direction toward said aperture to said second position to retain said bone anchor in said bone plate, wherein: said bone plate further comprises first and second channels extending along opposite sides of said seat and said retainer includes tabs extending from opposite sides thereof, said tabs sliding along respective ones of said first and second channels when moving between said first and second positions with said first and second channels capturing said retainer in said bone plate; and said seat includes a stop extending therein adjacent to said aperture, said seat further defining grooves on opposite sides of said stop, and said retainer includes contacting portions extending from a bottom surface of said retainer, said contacting portions being configured to move through said grooves as said retainer moves between said first and second positions.