Abstract: The invention is a staple comprising a bridge member having a top surface and an opposing bottom surface defining a thickness between and two lateral edges defining a width therebetween and either the thickness or the width includes a center flared area, such as a “diamond-like” shape meaning that it has a v-shape on opposing lateral edges flanked by opposing fillets to form an inserter mount area and the staple has a pair of legs spaced apart along the axis and each joined at a rounded flared shoulder to the bridge member. In a four-legged version the bridge has a waist.

Abstract: The invention is a drill guide assembly for a superelastic bone staple having a bridge member and opposing open legs and the drill guide assembly has a pair of legs that can be moved toward or away from each other and accepts a drill guide cartridge for the holes for the staple legs.

Abstract: The invention is a staple system comprising a primary staple having a bridge member including an opening and an offset and a first and second set of one or two joined to the bridge member and a secondary staple having a pair of legs and a bridge member received in the opening in the bridge member of the primary staple. In a second embodiment, the staple system includes a primary staple that receives a secondary staple having differing leg lengths and including a detent that inhibits the secondary staple from backing out and the shoulders of the staples are reinforced to account for compressive and torsional loads.

Abstract: The invention is a staple comprising a bridge member having a top surface and an opposing bottom surface defining a thickness between and two lateral edges defining a width therebetween and either the thickness or the width includes a center flared area, such as a “diamond-like” shape meaning that it has a v-shape on opposing lateral edges flanked by opposing fillets to form an inserter mount area and the staple has a pair of legs spaced apart along the axis and each joined at a rounded flared shoulder to the bridge member. In a four-legged version the bridge has a waist.

Abstract: The invention is a super elastic bone plate and inserter. The bone plate has a plate section with openings for screws at fixed or variable angles, an optional compression slot, and a pronged section (i.e. the claw foot), which is generally transverse to the long axis of the plate for insertion, and after deployment returns to an angle of less than 90° to impart compression at a bone/bone interface, e.g. to cause fusion between bone segments. The inserter, which has a first leg with a frictional fit holding block for the plate and a second leg with a holding and activation mechanism for the super elastic pronged section. The invention also relates to a method of bone fusion using the plate system.

Abstract: The invention is a staple comprising a bridge member having a spherical top surface and a spherical opposing bottom surface defining a constant thickness between and having a constant thickness and a first pair of a first leg and a second leg and a second pair of a first leg and a second leg where the first and second pair of legs are spaced apart along the axis and are joined to the bridge member.

Abstract: The invention is a drill guide assembly for a superelastic bone staple having a bridge member and opposing open legs and the drill guide assembly has a pair of legs that can be moved toward or away from each other and accepts a drill guide cartridge for the holes for the staple legs.

Abstract: The invention is a staple system comprising a primary staple having a bridge member including an opening and an offset and a first and second set of one or two joined to the bridge member and a secondary staple having a pair of legs and a bridge member received in the opening in the bridge member of the primary staple. In a second embodiment, the staple system includes a primary staple that receives a secondary staple having differing leg lengths and including a detent that inhibits the secondary staple from backing out and the shoulders of the staples are reinforced to account for compressive and torsional loads.

Abstract: The invention is a super elastic bone plate and inserter. The bone plate has a plate section with openings for screws at fixed or variable angles, an optional compression slot, and a pronged section (i.e. the claw foot), which is generally transverse to the long axis of the plate for insertion, and after deployment returns to an angle of less than 90° to impart compression at a bone/bone interface, e.g. to cause fusion between bone segments. The inserter, which has a first leg with a frictional fit holding block for the plate and a second leg with a holding and activation mechanism for the super elastic pronged section. The invention also relates to a method of bone fusion using the plate system.

Abstract: The invention is a staple comprising a bridge member having a spherical top surface and a spherical opposing bottom surface defining a constant thickness between and having a constant thickness and a first pair of a first leg and a second leg and a second pair of a first leg and a second leg where the first and second pair of legs are spaced apart along the axis and are joined to the bridge member.