Abstract: An aiming jig for a tibia plate, including: a head the interfaces with a head of the tibia plate comprising: screw guide holes corresponding to screw holes in the head of the tibia plate; a fixation protrusion that engages a fixation opening in the head of the tibia plate, wherein an engagement of the fixation protrusion with the fixation opening aligns the head with the head of the tibia plate; and an arm extending from the head including a guide wherein the guide is configured to extend along an anterior portion of a tibia when the aiming jig is fixed to the tibia plate, and the guide includes a support screw guide hole that guides a placement of a support screw into the tibia in a generally anterior to posterior direction so that the support screw avoids interfering with plate screws placed in the head of the tibia plate.

Abstract: A bone plate defines an interior surface that defines: a hole extending through the plate along an axis; plate threads configured for locking with a threaded head of a locking screw; first, second, and third columns sequentially located about the axis; a first corner extending tangentially from the second to the first column; and a second corner extending tangentially from the third to the first column. The first and second corners are substantially equidistantly spaced from the axis. The plate threads extend across the first, second, and third columns and the first and second corners. The interior surface defines a recess between the second and third columns and facing the first column. An apex of the recess is spaced further from the axis than are the first and second corners, such that the recess circumferentially interrupts at least a portion of at least one of the plate threads.

Abstract: A bone plate includes a plate body defining an interior surface that defines a combination hole that includes intersecting locking and compression holes that each extend between outer and bone-facing surfaces of the plate body. A central axis of the compression hole is spaced from a central axis of the locking hole in an offset direction. A locking surface of the plate body defines the locking hole and at least one locking structure therein. A compression surface of the plate body defines the compression hole. An intersection boundary between the locking and compression surfaces is configured to translate the bone plate in the offset direction during contact between the intersection boundary and a head of a compression screw as it advances within the combination hole along an insertion axis offset from the central axis of the locking hole at an offset distance in a direction having a directional component in the offset direction.

Abstract: A bone plate defines an interior surface that defines: a hole extending through the plate along an axis; plate threads configured for locking with a threaded head of a locking screw; first, second, and third columns sequentially located about the axis; a first corner extending tangentially from the second to the first column; and a second corner extending tangentially from the third to the first column. The first and second corners are substantially equidistantly spaced from the axis. The plate threads extend across the first, second, and third columns and the first and second corners. The interior surface defines a recess between the second and third columns and facing the first column. An apex of the recess is spaced further from the axis than are the first and second corners, such that the recess circumferentially interrupts at least a portion of at least one of the plate threads.

Abstract: A drill guide handle configured to engage a variable angle drill guide, including: a handle grip; a first cannula extending from a proximal end of the drill guide handle to a distal end of the drill guide handle, wherein the first cannula is configured to provide a zero degree insertion angle for a drill bit; and a body including: a first tab and a second tab wherein the first and second tabs include a first and second tab protrusion, respectively, wherein each of the first tab and the second is configured to flex so that the first and second tab protrusions engage a horizontal groove on a variable angle drill guide; and a body protrusion on an inner surface of the body, wherein the body protrusion is configured to engage a vertical grove on the variable angle drill guide.

Abstract: A drill sleeve, including: an outer sleeve with an internal collet at a distal end of the outer sleeve, a slot, and an inner opening; a handle connected to the outer sleeve; an inner sleeve with an inner opening configured to receive and guide a drill bit, wherein the inner sleeve is configured to slide inside the inner opening of the outer sleeve; a trigger; a connection member connected to trigger and the inner tube, wherein the connection member passes through the slot in the outer sleeve and a biasing member configured to apply a biasing force between the handle and the trigger wherein the biasing force drives the inner sleeve into the outer sleeve, wherein when a distal end of the inner sleeve engages the internal collet, the internal collet is configured to engage a screw hole in a bone plate, align the drill sleeve with a nominal axis of the screw hole, and secure the drill sleeve to the screw hole.

Abstract: A drill guide handle configured to engage a variable angle drill guide, including: a handle grip; a first cannula extending from a proximal end of the drill guide handle to a distal end of the drill guide handle, wherein the first cannula is configured to provide a zero degree insertion angle for a drill bit; and a body including: a first tab and a second tab wherein the first and second tabs include a first and second tab protrusion, respectively, wherein each of the first tab and the second is configured to flex so that the first and second tab protrusions engage a horizontal groove on a variable angle drill guide; and a body protrusion on an inner surface of the body, wherein the body protrusion is configured to engage a vertical grove on the variable angle drill guide.

Abstract: A drill sleeve, including: an outer sleeve with an internal collet at a distal end of the outer sleeve, a slot, and an inner opening; a handle connected to the outer sleeve; an inner sleeve with an inner opening configured to receive and guide a drill bit, wherein the inner sleeve is configured to slide inside the inner opening of the outer sleeve; a trigger; a connection member connected to trigger and the inner tube, wherein the connection member passes through the slot in the outer sleeve and a biasing member configured to apply a biasing force between the handle and the trigger wherein the biasing force drives the inner sleeve into the outer sleeve, wherein when a distal end of the inner sleeve engages the internal collet, the internal collet is configured to engage a screw hole in a bone plate, align the drill sleeve with a nominal axis of the screw hole, and secure the drill sleeve to the screw hole.

Abstract: A bone plate defines an interior surface that defines: a hole extending through the plate along an axis; plate threads configured for locking with a threaded head of a locking screw; first, second, and third columns sequentially located about the axis; a first corner extending tangentially from the second to the first column; and a second corner extending tangentially from the third to the first column. The first and second corners are substantially equidistantly spaced from the axis. The plate threads extend across the first, second, and third columns and the first and second corners. The interior surface defines a recess between the second and third columns and facing the first column. An apex of the recess is spaced further from the axis than are the first and second corners, such that the recess circumferentially interrupts at least a portion of at least one of the plate threads.

Abstract: A drill sleeve, including: an outer sleeve with an internal collet at a distal end of the outer sleeve and an inner opening; a handle connected to the outer sleeve; an inner sleeve with an inner opening configured to receive and guide a drill bit, wherein the inner sleeve is configured to slide inside the inner opening of the outer sleeve; a trigger connected to the inner sleeve; and a biasing member configured to apply a biasing force between the handle and the trigger wherein the biasing force drives the inner sleeve into the outer sleeve, wherein when a distal end of the inner sleeve engages the internal collet, the internal collet is configured to engage a screw hole in a bone plate, align the drill sleeve with a nominal axis of the screw hole, and secure the drill sleeve to the screw hole.

Abstract: A bone plate includes a plate body defining an interior surface that defines a combination hole that includes intersecting locking and compression holes that each extend between outer and bone-facing surfaces of the plate body. A central axis of the compression hole is spaced from a central axis of the locking hole in an offset direction. A locking surface of the plate body defines the locking hole and at least one locking structure therein. A compression surface of the plate body defines the compression hole. An intersection boundary between the locking and compression surfaces is configured to translate the bone plate in the offset direction during contact between the intersection boundary and a head of a compression screw as it advances within the combination hole along an insertion axis offset from the central axis of the locking hole at an offset distance in a direction having a directional component in the offset direction.

Abstract: A drill sleeve, including: an outer sleeve with an internal collet at a distal end of the outer sleeve and an inner opening; a handle connected to the outer sleeve; an inner sleeve with an inner opening configured to receive and guide a drill bit, wherein the inner sleeve is configured to slide inside the inner opening of the outer sleeve; a trigger connected to the inner sleeve; and a biasing member configured to apply a biasing force between the handle and the trigger wherein the biasing force drives the inner sleeve into the outer sleeve, wherein when a distal end of the inner sleeve engages the internal collet, the internal collet is configured to engage a screw hole in a bone plate, align the drill sleeve with a nominal axis of the screw hole, and secure the drill sleeve to the screw hole.

Abstract: A system for inserting an intramedullary nail into a bone includes (a) a handle extending from a proximal end to a distal end configured to couple to an intramedullary nail only in a desired orientation and (b) an aiming device extending from a proximal end to a distal end configured for attachment to the proximal end of the handle. The aiming device includes a guide opening extending therethrough sized and shaped to accommodate a protective sleeve therein. The guide opening is located and oriented so that, when the aiming device and the handle are coupled to one another, a bone fixation receiving hole in an intramedullary nail coupled to the handle is aligned with the guide opening. The aiming device further includes a locking pin fixedly mounted thereto. The locking pin extends into the guide opening to engage a protective sleeve inserted therein.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a dynamic fixation system for engaging, via bone fixation elements, one or more parts of a patient's body. Preferably, the dynamic fixation system is used to engage one or more vertebrae for stabilizing the attached vertebrae with respect to one another while still permitting the vertebrae to move with respect to one another. The dynamic fixation system may include a first rod having first and second ends, a second rod having first and second ends, and a damping component and/or a damping mechanism for interconnecting the first and second rods. In one embodiment, the damping component is injection molded in-between the one of the ends of the first rod and one of the ends of the second rod so that the first and second rods are prevented from separating with respect to one another but are still permitted to move with respect to one another.

Abstract: A system for inserting an intramedullary nail into a bone includes (a) a handle extending from a proximal end to a distal end configured to couple to an intramedullary nail only in a desired orientation and (b) an aiming device extending from a proximal end to a distal end configured for attachment to the proximal end of the handle. The aiming device includes a guide opening extending therethrough sized and shaped to accommodate a protective sleeve therein. The guide opening is located and oriented so that, when the aiming device and the handle are coupled to one another, a bone fixation receiving hole in an intramedullary nail coupled to the handle is aligned with the guide opening. The aiming device further includes a locking pin fixedly mounted thereto. The locking pin extends into the guide opening to engage a protective sleeve inserted therein.