Patent ID: 8529608

Claim:
A system for securing two discrete bones together across a joint between the two bones, comprising: the plate comprises: an elongate spine having: a first end comprising: at least one fixation point for attaching the first end to a first discrete bone on a first side of an intermediate joint; and a first inner surface configured to substantially conform with a geometry of the first discrete bone; a second end comprising: at least one fixation point for attaching the second end to a second discrete bone on a second side of the joint; and a second inner surface configured to substantially conform with a geometry of the second discrete bone; and a bridge portion disposed between the first end and the second end, the bridge portion configured to span across the joint, at least a portion of said bridge portion having a thickness greater than at least a portion of the thickness of either the first end or the second end; and a transfixation screw hole disposed along the spine, the transfixation screw hole comprising an inner surface configured to direct the transfixation screw through the transfixation screw hole such that the transfixation screw extends the bridge portion at a trajectory configured to pass through a first position on the first discrete bone, a portion of the joint, and a second position on the second discrete bone once the plate is placed across the joint; and the transfixation screw comprises a head configured to abut the inner surface of the transfixation screw hole and a shaft configured to contiguously extend through the first discrete bone, through the joint, and into the second discrete bone so as to absorb tensile load when the second discrete bone is loaded relative to the first discrete bone thereby transferring the tensile load from the second discrete bone, through the screw into said head and said bridge portion.