Orthopedic staple and related instruments

A bone staple inserter kit comprising:

• a first sterile package containing a first bone staple securely mounted to a first cartridge, wherein the first bone staple a first leg, a second leg, and a bridge portion connecting the two legs, the bridge comprising a flat top surface along the length of the bridge portion, having a first end opposite a spaced-away second end, and two chamfered edge surfaces that extend substantially the length of the bridge portion, the flat top surface positioned between the two chamfered edge surfaces, wherein the flat top surface extends substantially the length of the bridge portion, so that the bridge portion defines a uniform cross-section, wherein each of the first end bridge portion transitions down to the first leg and the second end of the bridge portion transitions down to the second leg, and
• a first cartridge comprises a first end and a second end, the first end provided with a channel that is sized to receive the bridge portion of the first bone staple and securely hold the first bone staple by an interference fit;
• and
• a second sterile package containing;
• a bone staple insertion tool that is configured to receive a cartridge, like the first cartridge that has a bone staple, like the first bone staple, securely mounted thereon;
• a universal drill guide assembly;
• and a drill bit, wherein the bone staple insertion tool comprises an actuation mechanism that can transform the bone staple to an insertion shape after the cartridge with the bone staple mounted thereon is mounted on the insertion tool.

A method for removing an orthopedic staple that has been implanted in a bone repair site in its relaxed state, wherein the orthopedic staple comprises a first bone staple securely mounted to a first cartridge, wherein the first bone staple a first leg, a second leg, and a bridge portion connecting the two legs, the bridge comprising a flat top surface along the length of the bridge portion, having a first end opposite a spaced-away second end, and two chamfered edge surfaces that extend substantially the length of the bridge portion, the flat top surface positioned between the two chamfered edge surfaces, wherein the flat top surface extends substantially the length of the bridge portion, so that the bridge portion defines a uniform cross-section, wherein each of the first end bridge portion transitions down to the first leg and the second end of the bridge portion transitions down to the second leg, the method comprising:

• (a) inserting a flat blade-like tool between the orthopedic staple's bridge portion and bone surface of the bone repair site and lifting the orthopedic staple's bridge portion away from the bone surface, creating a space between the orthopedic staple's bridge portion and the bone surface;
• (b) attaching an inserter tool/cartridge assembly to the orthopedic staple's bridge portion wherein the inserter tool/cartridge assembly comprises a channel that is sized to receive the curved bridge portion of the orthopedic staple and hold the orthopedic staple by an interference fit so that by engaging the channel to the curved bridge portion the curved bridge portion is positioned within the channel;
• (c) actuating the inserter tool to change the orthopedic staple from its relaxed state to its insertion state in which the two legs of the orthopedic staple are substantially parallel to each other;
• and
• (d) removing the orthopedic staple from the bone repair site.

A method for removing an orthopedic staple that has been implanted in a bone repair site in its relaxed state, wherein the orthopedic staple comprises a first bone staple securely mounted to a first cartridge, wherein the first bone staple a first leg, a second leg, and a bridge portion connecting the two legs, the bridge comprising a flat top surface along the length of the bridge portion, having a first end opposite a spaced-away second end, and two chamfered edge surfaces that extend substantially the length of the bridge portion, the flat top surface positioned between the two chamfered edge surfaces, wherein the flat top surface extends substantially the length of the bridge portion, so that the bridge portion defines a uniform cross-section, wherein each of the first end bridge portion transitions down to the first leg and the second end of the bridge portion transitions down to the second leg, the method comprising:

• (a) attaching a cartridge to the orthopedic staple's bridge portion, wherein the cartridge comprises a channel that is sized to receive the curved bridge portion of the orthopedic staple and hold the orthopedic staple by an interference fit, and attaching the cartridge to the orthopedic staple's bridge portion includes engaging the channel to the curved bridge portion so that the curved bridge portion is positioned within the channel;
• (b) attaching an inserter tool to the cartridge;
• (c) actuating the inserter tool to change the orthopedic staple from its relaxed state to its insertion state in which the two legs of the orthopedic staple are substantially parallel to each other;
• and
• (d) removing the orthopedic staple from the bone repair site.