Compression staple systems and methods

1 . A method of bone fixation using a compression staple system, the method comprising:

loading a compression staple comprising two legs into an inserter; wherein loading the compression staple comprises:

moving a moveable jaw of the inserter, relative to a stationary jaw of the inserter to an open position in which the moveable jaw is spaced apart from the stationary jaw a first distance;

engaging a first retention mechanism of the stationary jaw with the compression staple;

engaging a second retention mechanism of the moveable jaw with the compression staple; and

moving the moveable jaw, relative to the stationary jaw, to a closed position in which the moveable jaw is spaced apart from the stationary jaw a second distance that is less than the first distance;

positioning a drill guide proximate a first bone portion and a second bone portion;

using the drill guide and a drill to create a first hole in the first bone portion and a second hole in the second bone portion, wherein the first hole and the second hole are configured to receive the two legs of the compression staple;

using the drill guide and a first drill pin, driving the first drill pin into the first bone portion;

using the drill guide and a second drill pin, driving the second drill pin into the second bone portion;

withdrawing the drill guide, leaving the first drill pin in the first bone portion and the second drill pin in the second bone portion;

guiding the inserter and the compression staple over the first drill pin and the second drill pin;

inserting the two legs of the compression staple into the first hole and the second hole;

actuating the inserter to release the compression staple; wherein actuating the inserter to release the compression staple comprises:

moving the moveable jaw, relative to the stationary jaw, to the open position in which the first retention mechanism disengages the compression staple; and

disengaging the second retention mechanism from the compression staple;

wherein the stationary jaw and the moveable jaw remain parallel between the closed position and the open position;

withdrawing the inserter; and

removing the first drill pin and the second drill pin.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

guiding an impactor over the first drill pin and the second drill pin; and

using the impactor to assess a first surface of the first bone portion and a second surface of the second bone portion to determine if the compression staple is insertable to be flush with the first surface and the second surface.

3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising guiding an impactor over the first drill pin and the second drill pin to impact the compression staple flush with a first surface of the first bone portion and a second surface of the second bone portion.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the drill guide comprises:

a handle;

a foot portion coupled to the handle;

a first guide sleeve slidably received in the foot portion, the first guide sleeve comprising a first aperture configured to guide the drill towards the first bone portion; and

a second guide sleeve slidably received in the foot portion, the second guide sleeve comprising a second aperture configured to guide the drill towards the second bone portion; and

the method further comprises:

with a first resilient member, urging a first bone contacting end of the first guide sleeve against the first bone portion; and

with a second resilient member, urging a second bone contacting end of the second guide sleeve against the second bone portion, independently of urging the first bone contacting end of the first guide sleeve against the first bone portion.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first bone portion and the second bone portion are separated at a joint or a fracture.

6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein creating the first hole in the first bone portion comprises creating the first hole generally parallel to the joint or the fracture, and creating the second hole in the second bone portion comprises creating the second hole generally parallel to the joint or the fracture.

7 . A method of bone fixation using a compression staple system, the method comprising:

loading a compression staple into an inserter;

positioning a drill guide proximate a first bone portion and a second bone portion;

wherein the drill guide comprises:

a handle;

a foot portion coupled to the handle;

a first guide sleeve slidably received in the foot portion and comprising a first aperture configured to guide a drill towards the first bone portion; and

a second guide sleeve slidably received in the foot portion and comprising a second aperture configured to guide the drill towards the second bone portion;

wherein the first guide sleeve and the second guide sleeve are independently spring-loaded relative to the foot portion;

using the drill guide and a drill to create a first plurality of holes in the first bone portion and a second plurality of holes in the second bone portion;

using the drill guide and a first drill pin to drive the first drill pin into the first bone portion;

using the drill guide and a second drill pin to drive the second drill pin into the second bone portion;

withdrawing the drill guide and leaving the first drill pin in the first bone portion and the second drill pin in the second bone portion;

guiding the inserter and the compression staple over the first drill pin and the second drill pin;

inserting the compression staple into the first bone portion and the second bone portion;

actuating the inserter to release the compression staple;

withdrawing the inserter; and

removing the first drill pin and the second drill pin.

8 . The method of claim 7 , further comprising guiding an impactor over the first drill pin and the second drill pin and using the impactor to assess a first surface of the first bone portion and a second surface of the second bone portion to determine if the compression staple is insertable to be flush with the first surface and the second surface.

9 . The method of claim 7 , further comprising guiding an impactor over the first drill pin and the second drill pin to impact the compression staple flush with a first surface of the first bone portion and a second surface of the second bone portion.

10 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the inserter is configured to releasably engage the compression staple and comprises:

a stationary jaw comprising a pair of first hooks configured to engage the compression staple;

a moveable jaw comprising a pair of second hooks configured to engage the compression staple;

a closed configuration wherein the stationary jaw is spaced apart from the moveable jaw a first distance; and

an open configuration wherein the stationary jaw is spaced apart from the moveable jaw a second distance greater than the first distance;

wherein:

the compression staple is captive within the inserter with the inserter in the closed configuration;

the compression staple is releasable from the inserter with the inserter in the open configuration; and

the stationary jaw and the moveable jaw remain parallel between the closed configuration and the open configuration.

11 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the first bone portion and the second bone portion are separated by a joint or a fracture.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein creating the first plurality of holes in the first bone portion comprises creating the first plurality of holes generally parallel to the joint or the fracture, and creating the second plurality of holes in the second bone portion comprises creating the second plurality of holes generally parallel to the joint or the fracture.

13 . A method of bone fixation using a compression staple system, the method comprising:

loading a compression staple into an inserter; wherein the inserter is configured to releasably engage the compression staple and comprises:

a stationary jaw comprising a pair of first hooks configured to engage the compression staple;

a moveable jaw comprising a pair of second hooks configured to engage the compression staple;

a closed configuration wherein the stationary jaw is spaced apart from the moveable jaw a first distance; and

an open configuration wherein the stationary jaw is spaced apart from the moveable jaw a second distance greater than the first distance;

wherein:

the compression staple is captive within the inserter with the inserter in the closed configuration;

the compression staple is releasable from the inserter with the inserter in the open configuration; and

the stationary jaw and the moveable jaw remain parallel between the closed configuration and the open configuration;

using a drill guide and a drill to create a first hole in a first bone portion, a second hole in the first bone portion, a third hole in a second bone portion, and a fourth hole in the second bone portion, wherein the drill guide comprises:

a handle;

a foot portion coupled to the handle;

a first guide sleeve captively and slidably received in the foot portion, the first guide sleeve comprising:

a first aperture configured to guide the drill along a first trajectory; and

a second aperture configured to guide the drill along a second trajectory; and

a second guide sleeve captively and slidably received in the foot portion and spaced apart from the first guide sleeve, the second guide sleeve comprising:

a third aperture configured to guide the drill along a third trajectory; and

a fourth aperture configured to guide the drill along a fourth trajectory;

wherein, the first trajectory, the second trajectory, the third trajectory, and the fourth trajectory are all parallel;

inserting the compression staple into the first hole, the second hole, the third hole, and the fourth hole;

actuating the inserter to release the compression staple; and

withdrawing the inserter.

14 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising:

using the drill guide and a second drill to create a fifth hole in the first bone portion using a fifth aperture in the drill guide, the fifth aperture comprising a fifth trajectory; and

using the drill guide and a third drill to create a sixth hole in the second bone portion using a sixth aperture in the drill guide, the sixth aperture comprising a sixth trajectory;

wherein the fifth trajectory and the sixth trajectory are parallel to the first trajectory.

15 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising guiding an impactor over a first drill pin inserted into the first bone portion and a second drill pin inserted into the second bone portion and using the impactor to assess a first surface of the first bone portion and a second surface of the second bone portion to determine if the compression staple is insertable to be flush with the first surface and the second surface.

16 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising guiding an impactor over a first drill pin inserted into the first bone portion and a second drill pin inserted into the second bone portion to impact the compression staple flush with a first surface of the first bone portion and a second surface of the second bone portion.

17 . The method of claim 13 , the method further comprises, with the first bone portion and the second bone portion separated by a joint or a fracture, creating the first hole in the first bone portion comprises creating the first hole generally parallel to the joint or the fracture, and creating the third hole in the second bone portion comprises creating the third hole generally parallel to the joint or the fracture.