# US 11,026,727 B2 · Bone plate with form-fitting variable-angle locking hole

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- Number: US 11,026,727 B2
- Document ID: US11026727B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/926,390
- Filed: 2018-03-20
- Published: 2019-09-26
- Granted: 2021-06-08
- Earliest claimed: 2018-03-20
- Assignees: DePuy Synthes Products, Inc.
- Applicants: DePuy Synthes Products, Inc.
- Inventors: Simon Bosshard; Jesse Rush; Michael McGurk; Christopher Keegan
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11026727B2

## CPC

- A61B 17/8057: {the interlocking form comprising a thread}
- A61B 17/8014: {the extension or compression force being caused by interaction of the plate hole and the screws}
- A61B 17/8047: {wherein the additional element surrounds the screw head in the plate hole (A61B17/8052 takes precedence)}
- A61B 17/8061: {specially adapted for particular bones (A61B17/70 and A61B17/74 take precedence)}
- A61B 17/86: Pins or screws {or threaded wires; nuts therefor (A61B17/72 take precedence)}
- A61B 17/8605: {Heads, i.e. proximal ends projecting from bone}
- A61B 17/88: {Osteosynthesis instruments;} Methods or means for implanting or extracting internal {or external} fixation devices {(A61B17/7074 takes precedence)}
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)

## Abstract

A bone plate includes at least one variable angle locking hole that is configured to threadedly mate with a variable angle locking screw oriented so as to define any angle among a range of angles with respect to a central axis of the VA locking hole at which a threaded head of the locking screw is configured to threadedly purchase with the bone plate in the variable angle locking hole.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A system comprising:
a bone plate including:
an inner surface configured to face the underlying bone, and an outer surface opposite the inner surface; and
an internal surface that extends from the outer surface to the inner surface so as to define a hole that is oriented along a central hole axis, wherein the internal surface includes 1) a plurality of threaded regions that define respective columns of thread segments, and 2) a plurality of recessed surfaces that are disposed between respective adjacent ones of the thread segments, the recessed surfaces being offset radially outward with respect to the columns of thread segments; and
a variable angle locking screw having a threaded head,
wherein the bone plate is configured to mate with the threaded head of the variable angle locking screw in the hole at an angle within a range of angles, such that the threaded head threadedly purchases with all of the columns of thread segments, and wherein the angle is oblique to the central hole axis, and
wherein the thread angle of the thread segments of the bone plate and the thread angle of the threaded head of the bone screw define a ratio between 1.1:1 and approximately 1.8:1.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the recessed surfaces are offset radially outward with respect to the respective threaded regions.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the internal surface defines a lead-in surface that is tapered radially inward from the outer surface to the columns.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The system as recited in claim 1, further comprising an undercut surface that is tapered radially outward as it extends from the columns to the inner surface.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the outer surface defines a perimeter of an opening to the hole, and the perimeter defines a circle.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the internal surface defines a plurality of transition regions between the columns and respective adjacent ones of the recessed surfaces.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The system as recited in claim 6, wherein respective depths of the thread segments taper along the transition regions in a circumferential direction away from the respective columns to the respective recessed surface.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The system as recited in claim 7, wherein the recessed surfaces are smooth.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The system as recited in claim 8, wherein the recessed surfaces are defined by respective radii that also define at least a portion of the transition regions.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the recessed surfaces and the columns define respective centerlines that are each oriented at a common angle with respect to the central hole axis.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The system as recited in claim 10, wherein the common angle is between approximately 5 degrees and approximately 30 degrees.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The system as recited in claim 1, wherein no portion of the internal surface extends radially inward of the columns.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the range of angles is within a cone that is centered about the central hole axis.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the hole is open to a compression hole that is configured to receive a compression screw having an unthreaded head that bears against the interior surface so as to compress the bone plate against the underlying bone.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the thread segments of the bone plate define a thread angle, the threaded head of the bone screw defines a thread angle, and the thread angle of the thread segments is greater than the thread angle of the threaded head.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The system as recited in claim 15, wherein the thread angle of the thread segments of the bone plate is approximately 80 degrees, and the thread angle of the threaded head of the bone screw is approximately 60 degrees.

### Claim 17 (depends on 1)

The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the ratio is approximately 4:3.