CPC A61B 17/8052 (2013.01) [A61B 17/88 (2013.01)] | 14 Claims |
14. A method of affixing a bone screw to a bone fixation plate at a desired orientation, comprising the steps of:
providing a bone screw, the bone screw comprising:
a non-threaded head portion with a driver engaging interface, the non-threaded head portion having a diameter; and
an elongate threaded shank section comprising helical threads, the elongate threaded shank section adjoining the non-threaded head portion;
providing a bone fixation plate, the bone fixation plate comprising:
an upper surface and a lower surface;
at least one opening formed on each of the upper and lower surfaces
a passage formed by the openings on the upper surface and the lower surface, the passage having a longitudinal axis, the passage extending from the upper surface to the lower surface; each passage is defined by one or more non-threaded inner walls that have a continuous surface from the upper surface to the lower surface, wherein portions of the one or more non-threaded walls comprise a curved surface, and wherein adjacently located non-threaded inner walls are separated by a recessed channel; and
resiliently deformable interference portions located at an upper portion of the one or more non-threaded inner walls of the passage; the resiliently deformable interference portions defining the opening on the upper surface such that the opening is smaller than the diameter of the non-threaded head portion of the bone screw, the resiliently deformable portions comprising a substantially planar surface positioned for abutment with an upper rim of the non-threaded head portion of the bone screw;
positioning said bone fixation plate on bone tissue such that the lower surface of the bone fixation plate is positioned to contact and engage the bone tissue and positioning the upper surface is positioned to receive the elongate threaded shank section of the bone screw;
selecting one of a plurality of different insertion angles at which the bone screw is to be inserted into the passage of the bone fixation plate;
inserting the elongate threaded shank section of the bone screw into the passage at the selected insertion angle; and
applying drive to the non-threaded head portion of the bone screw until interference is achieved between an outer surface of the non-threaded head portion of the bone screw and the interference portions of the bone fixation plate to deform the interference portions and lock the non-threaded head portion of the bone screw within the passage.
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