Patent ID: 7468069
Filing Date: 2008-12-23
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. An implant for stabilizing skeletal bone across a discontinuity comprising a plate having a first end and a second end with an intermediate length to span a discontinuity and a width to accommodate at least one screw hole in each of said first end and said second end, the width of said intermediate length being less than said width of said first end and said second end, said plate including a thickness with a proximal surface for contacting a bone and an opposite distal surface, said plurality of screw holes extending through said thickness for accepting bone screws, said plurality of screw holes each having an enlarged depression in said distal surface, each said depression having a continuous sidewall connected to a bottom wall between said proximal and said distal surfaces, each said screw hole and each said depression having a longitudinal axis, a plurality of bone screws with external threads adapted to penetrate said plurality of screw holes, said bone screws each having an enlarged heads adapted to engage said bottom of each said depressions whereby said bone screws are inserted through said plate and adapted to threadably engage said bone to stabilize the bone across the discontinuity whereby said discontinuity may be observed through said intermediate length during implantation and, said first and second end each contain a slot, each said slot forming a cavity having a thickness length and width, wherein each said length and width are defined by substantially planar upper and lower surfaces, said upper and lower surfaces being substantially parallel to said proximal and distal surfaces, said distal surface extending completely over and enclosing said cavity, the dimension of said thickness of each said slot being less than the dimension of said length of each said slot, and the dimension of said thickness of each said slot being less than the dimension of said width of each said slot, each of said slots extending through said sidewall of each of said depressions, a screw lock slidably disposed in each of said slots whereby said screw lock may be slid into said depressions to prevent back out of said bone screws.