# US 2006/0149250 A1 · Bone plate with pre-assembled drill guide tips > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2006/0149250 A1 - Document ID: US20060149250A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 11/011,917 - Filed: 2004-12-14 - Published: 2006-07-06 - Earliest claimed: 2004-12-14 - Assignees: DePuy Products, Inc. - Inventors: Javier Castaneda; Jorge Orbay; William Doyle; Robert Graham - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20060149250A1 ## CPC - A61B 17/1728: {for holes for bone plates or plate screws} - A61B 17/80: Cortical plates {, i.e. bone plates; Instruments for holding or positioning cortical plates, or for compressing bones attached to cortical plates} - A61B 90/92: coded with colour - A61B 17/1782: {for the hand or wrist} - A61B 17/888: {the driver bit acting on the central region of the screw head} - A61B 17/8888: {at its central region} - A61B 2090/062: {penetration depth} - Y10T 29/49826: Assembling or joining - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract Removable drill guide tips are pre-assembled into threaded holes of a bone plate. The tips may be used with an extension to together function as a conventional drill guide. After drilling, the extension or another tool is used to remove the tips from the plate. According to another use, the tip is used as a guide for a drill bit without any additional extension and then removed with a tool. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A bone plate system for use with fasteners which each have a shaft and a threaded head, said system, comprising: a) a bone plate having a plurality of threaded holes for receiving the fasteners, said threaded holes having respective axes; and b) a plurality of removable drill guide tips assembled in said threaded boles in alignment with said axes. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A bone plate system according to claim 1, wherein: at least one of said axes is oblique relative to the others of said axes. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A bone plate system according to claim 1, wherein: all of said axes are oblique relative to the others. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A bone plate system according to claim 1, wherein: said drill guide tips include a guiding end which extends not more than approximately 0.25 inch from a surface of the bone plate opposite a bone contacting surface. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A bone plate system according to claim 1, wherein: said drill guide tips each include a threaded end and a body, and said body tapers away from said threaded end. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) A bone plate system according to claim 5, wherein: said body is frustoconical. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A bone plate system according to claim 1, wherein: said drill guide tips include a substantially cylindrical bore having at least one corner defined therein. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A bone plate system according to claim 1, wherein: said drill guide tips include a body with a cylindrical bore and a lateral protrusion. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) A bone plate system according to claim 1, wherein: said drill guide tips include a body having an end with a non-circular exterior cross-sectional shape. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) A bone plate system according to claim 1, further comprising: a drill guide extension comprising an elongate member having a cylindrical tubular interior and an end which axially mates with an upper portion of said drill guide tips. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) A bone plate system according to claim 10, wherein: said drill guide extension is torqueably engageable with said drill guide tips. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) A bone plate system according to claim 11, wherein: said drill guide extension is torqueably engageable with an exterior of said drill guide tips. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) A bone plate system according to claim 1, further comprising: a tool torqueably engageable with au interior of said drill guide tips. ### Claim 14 A method of implanting a bone plate, comprising: a) providing a bone plate having a plurality of threaded holes and drill guide tips assembled in said threaded holes; b) positioning the plate on a bone after said drill guide tips are assembled in said threaded holes; c) positioning a drill bit through the drill guide tips and drilling holes in alignment therewith into the bone; d) removing the drill guide tips from the plate; and e) inserting fasteners into the threaded holes and drilled holes. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) A method according to claim 14, wherein: said providing includes providing the drill guide tips in a color which is distinct from the bone plate. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) A method according to claim 14, further comprising: before said positioning a drill bit, providing a drill guide extension to the drill guide tips to provide a longer effective drill guide. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) A method according to claim 14, further comprising: after removing, accounting for the removed tips to ensure that all the removed tips are recovered. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) A method according to claim 14, wherein: said providing a bone plate having a plurality of threaded holes and drill guide tips assembled in said peg holes includes providing drill guide tips which when so assembled extend not more than approximately 0.25 inch from a surface of said bone plate opposite a bone contacting surface. ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) A method according to claim 14, wherein: said providing a bone plate having a plurality of threaded holes and drill guide tips assembled includes assembling said drill guide tips to said bone plate prior to introducing said bone plate into an operating room; ### Claim 20 A bone plate system, comprising: a) a bone plate having a plurality of threaded holes; and b) a plurality of removable tubular elements each having a first end assembled in one of said threaded holes, said tubular elements having an end opposite said first end which is located not more than approximately 0.25 inch from a surface of said bone plate opposite a bone contacting surface. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) A bone plate system according to claim 20, wherein: said first end is a threaded end. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) A bone plate system according to claim 21, wherein: said threaded holes define axes and said tubular elements are assembled to said threaded boles in alignment with said axes. ### Claim 23 A bone plate system, comprising: a) a bone plate having a plurality of threaded holes each defining an axis; and b) a plurality of removable tubular elements each having a first end assembled in) one of said threaded holes in alignment with the axis of the respective threaded hole, said tubular elements having an interior surface which includes at least one corner. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) A bone plate system according to claim 23, wherein: said interior surface of said tubular elements includes a plurality of corners. ### Claim 25 (depends on 23) A bone plate system according to claim 23, wherein: said tubular element includes an end opposite said first end which is located not more than approximately 0.25 inch from a surface of said bone plate opposite a bone contacting surface. ### Claim 26 (depends on 23) A bone plate system according to claim 23, wherein: said first end is a threaded end.