# US 11,304,736 B2 · Rib plate and rib plate system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,304,736 B2 - Document ID: US11304736B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/890,412 - Filed: 2020-06-02 - Published: 2020-12-03 - Granted: 2022-04-19 - Earliest claimed: 2019-06-03 - Assignees: Stryker European Operations Holdings LLC - Applicants: Stryker European Operations Holdings LLC - Inventors: Christian Knöpfle; Viktor Kraft; Jochen Fink - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11304736B2 ## CPC - A61B 17/8076: {for the ribs or the sternum} - A61B 17/8057: {the interlocking form comprising a thread} - A61B 17/808: {Instruments for holding or positioning bone plates, or for adjusting screw-to-plate locking mechanisms} - A61B 17/8085: {with pliable or malleable elements or having a mesh-like structure, e.g. small strips (A61B17/8071, A61B17/8076 take precedence)} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract A monolithic rib plate is described. The rib plate comprises multiple first screw orifices located substantially along a first line and connected by first bridges, multiple second screw orifices located laterally on one side of the first line and connected by second bridges, wherein one or more of the second bridges have a smaller cross-section than the first bridges, and third bridges, each connecting one of the second screw orifices with one of the first screw orifices. Also described is a rib plate system comprising the monolithic rib plate and at least one of one or more polyaxial locking screws, a tool for removing the second bridges, a tool for bending the monolithic rib plate, and one or more orifice bridge plates. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A monolithic rib plate, comprising: multiple first screw orifices located substantially along a first line and connected by first bridges; multiple second screw orifices located laterally on one side of the first line and connected by second bridges, wherein one or more of the second bridges have a smaller cross-section than the first bridges; and third bridges, each connecting one of the second screw orifices with one of the first screw orifices, wherein at least one of the second screw orifices is located halfway between its closest two first screw orifices. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The monolithic rib plate according to claim 1, wherein the second screw orifices each have a curved cross-section. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The monolithic rib plate according to claim 1, wherein the one or more second bridges having the smaller cross-section are more flexible than the first bridges. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The monolithic rib plate according to claim 1, wherein one or more of the third bridges are more flexible than the first bridges. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The monolithic rib plate according to claim 1, wherein each second screw orifice has a center point and wherein a second line extends through the center points of two neighboring second screw orifices, and wherein the one or more of the second bridges having the smaller cross-section and connecting the two neighboring second screw orifices are offset relative to the second line in a direction away from the first line. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The monolithic rib plate according to claim 1, wherein at least the one or more of the second bridges having the smaller cross-section are concavely shaped on their side facing the first line. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The monolithic rib plate according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the third bridges is concavely shaped on its side facing away from the first line. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The monolithic rib plate according to claim 1, wherein one or more of the first and second screw orifices comprises an engagement portion configured to engage a threaded head of a polyaxial locking screw at a selected angular orientation. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The monolithic rib plate according to claim 1, wherein the first screw orifices and the second screw orifices define respective central screw axes which are angled to each other. ### Claim 10 A monolithic rib plate, comprising: multiple first screw orifices located substantially along a first line and connected by first bridges; multiple second screw orifices located laterally on one side of the first line and connected by second bridges, wherein one or more of the second bridges have a smaller cross-section than the first bridges; and third bridges, each connecting one of the second screw orifices with one of the first screw orifices, wherein at least one of the second screw orifices is connected to one of the first screw orifices by one of the third bridges and to another of the first screw orifices by another of the third bridges. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The monolithic rib plate according to claim 10, wherein a combined cross-section of the two third bridges connecting the second screw orifice to the two first screw orifices is smaller than the cross-section of the first bridge connecting these two first screw orifices. ### Claim 12 A monolithic rib plate, comprising: multiple first screw orifices located substantially along a first line and connected by first bridges; multiple second screw orifices located laterally on one side of the first line and connected by second bridges, wherein one or more of the second bridges have a smaller cross-section than the first bridges; and third bridges, each connecting one of the second screw orifices with one of the first screw orifices, wherein a greatest distance between two of the third bridges connecting one of the first screw orifices with its closest two second screw orifices is equal to or less than a shortest distance between the one first screw orifice and the second bridge connecting the closest two second screw orifices. ### Claim 13 A monolithic rib plate, comprising: multiple first screw orifices located substantially along a first line and connected by first bridges; multiple second screw orifices located laterally on one side of the first line and connected by second bridges, wherein one or more of the second bridges have a smaller cross-section than the first bridges; and third bridges, each connecting one of the second screw orifices with one of the first screw orifices, wherein a free space at least partially enclosed by one second bridge and two third bridges extends a distance in a direction of the first line equal to or less than a distance in a direction orthogonal to the first line.