US 12,396,769 B2
Bone fixation systems and methods
Nathaniel DuBois, Vista, CA (US); Scott Robinson, Encinitas, CA (US); Steven Leong, San Diego, CA (US); and Jonathan T. Costabile, San Diego, CA (US)
Assigned to Alphatec Spine, Inc., Carlsbad, CA (US)
Filed by Alphatec Spine, Inc., Carlsbad, CA (US)
Filed on Sep. 22, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/482,291.
Application 15/056,177 is a division of application No. 13/010,392, filed on Jan. 20, 2011, granted, now 9,271,770, issued on Mar. 1, 2016.
Application 17/482,291 is a continuation of application No. 15/459,068, filed on Mar. 15, 2017, granted, now 11,154,338.
Application 15/459,068 is a continuation in part of application No. 15/056,177, filed on Feb. 29, 2016, granted, now 9,877,756, issued on Jan. 30, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2022/0008107 A1, Jan. 13, 2022
Int. Cl. A61B 17/80 (2006.01); A61B 17/70 (2006.01); A61F 2/44 (2006.01); A61B 17/86 (2006.01); A61F 2/30 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 17/8047 (2013.01) [A61B 17/7059 (2013.01); A61B 17/80 (2013.01); A61B 17/8042 (2013.01); A61F 2/447 (2013.01); A61B 17/8605 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30578 (2013.01)] 8 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A bone fixation system comprising:
first and second fasteners, each fastener comprising a shank portion and a head portion;
a plate having first and second sides, the plate comprising:
a body portion having a length extending from a caudal end to a cephalad end,
a first opening for receiving the first fastener,
a second opening for receiving the second fastener, the first and second openings positioned next to each other, but not in communication with each other, along a line that is normal to the length of the body portion,
a third opening extending from the first side to the second side, the third opening defined by a first pair of sidewalls substantially defining a line tangential to the first opening,
a first retention member positioned between the first pair of sidewalls, the first retention member comprising a substantially straight stem portion extending from the body portion and an extension portion that extends from the stem portion in the third opening into the first opening, the stem portion being elastically deformable so that, at rest, the first retention member occupies a first position and, when deformed, occupies a second position,
a fourth opening extending from the first side to the second side, the fourth opening defined by a second pair of sidewalls substantially defining a line tangential to the second opening, and
a second retention member positioned between the second pair of sidewalls, the second retention member comprising a substantially straight stem portion extending from the body portion and an extension portion that extends from the stem portion in the fourth opening into the second opening, the stem portion being elastically deformable so that, at rest, the second retention member occupies a first position and, when deformed, occupies a second position,
wherein the first and third openings are in communication, the second and fourth openings are in communication, and the third and fourth openings are not in communication;
wherein insertion of the first fastener through the first opening causes the stem of the first retention member to at least partially deform when the head of the first fastener presses against the extension of the first retention member causing the first retention member to occupy the second position thereby allowing the head to pass and, when the head of the first fastener is advanced past the extension portion of the first retention member, the first retention member returns to the first position with at least a portion of the extension portion covering at least a portion of the head of the first fastener;
wherein insertion of the second fastener through the second opening causes the stem of the second retention member to at least partially deform when the head of the second fastener presses against the head of the second retention member causing the second retention member to occupy the second position thereby allowing the head to pass and, when the head of the second fastener is advanced past the extension portion of the second retention member, the second retention member returns to the first position with at least a portion of the extension portion covering at least a portion of the head of the second fastener; and a fifth opening positioned next to, but not in communication with, the first opening along the length of the body portion.