IP Library › Granted Patent US 12708414
Granted Patent B2
US 12708414 · App. 17/819,492 · Granted Aug 18, 2026

Bone plate hole caps, bone plate systems, and methods using same

Inventors: Albert Dacosta (Lone Tree, CO); Richard David Hunt (Arvada, CO); Spanky Raymond (Uniontown, OH); Kyle James Hartson (Denver, CO); Shane Miller (Dublin, IE)
Assignee: Paragon 28, Inc.
A61B17/8004A61B17/8057
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12708414
App. No.
17/819,492
Granted
Aug 18, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A bone plate system includes, for example, a bone plate and at least one bone plate hole cap. The bone plate includes a body having a first surface, a bone-engaging surface, and a plurality of through-openings. The bone plate hole cap includes a body having a first surface, a second surface, and a peripheral surface. The bone plate hole cap is securable in at least one of the through-openings in the bone plate. When the bone plate hole cap is secured in the through opening, the second surface of the bone plate hole cap is disposed adjacent to the bone-engaging surface of the bone plate. The bone plate with the bone plate hole cap secured in the through-hole increases the bending strength of a portion of the bone plate across the bone plate hole cap compared to the portion of the bone plate without the bone plate hole cap.

Claims (52)

1 . A bone plate system comprising:

a bone plate comprising a body having a first surface, a bone-engaging surface, and a plurality of through-openings extending from said first surface to said bone-engaging surface, said plurality of through-openings defining an inner surface extending between said first surface to said bone-engaging surface of said bone plate;

at least one bone plate hole cap comprising a body having a first surface, a second surface, and a peripheral surface disposed between said first surface and said second surface of said at least one bone plate hole cap, said at least one bone plate hole cap securable in at least one of said plurality of through-openings in said bone plate;

said first surface and/or said second surface of said bone plate hole cap is configured for receiving a drive tool operable for inserting and/or removing the bone plate hole cap into and/or from the bone plate;

at least one cover attachable to said at least one bone plate hole cap, said at least one cover having a top portion and a lower portion;

wherein when said bone plate hole cap is secured in said at least one of said plurality of through-openings, said second surface of said bone plate hole cap is disposed adjacent to said bone-engaging surface of said bone plate;

wherein the bone plate with the at least one bone plate hole cap secured in the one of the plurality of through-openings increases the bending strength of a portion of said bone plate across said bone plate hole cap compared to said portion of said bone plate without the bone plate hole cap; and

wherein said lower portion of said at least one cover is configured to correspond to the drive tool.

2 . The bone plate system of claim 1 , wherein said first surface and/or said second surface of said bone plate hole cap is configured for receiving a male drive tool operable for inserting and/or removing the bone plate hole cap into and/or from the bone plate.

3 . The bone plate system of claim 2 , wherein the drive tool comprise a standard drive tool.

4 . The bone plate system of claim 2 , wherein the drive tool comprise a hex drive.

5 . The bone plate system of claim 1 , wherein said cover comprises a passageway for receiving a suture.

6 . The bone plate system of claim 5 , wherein said cover comprises a passageway comprising a hole having a first opening disposed adjacent a first peripheral portion of said cover and a second opening disposed adjacent a second peripheral portion of said cover, and said hole extends completely within said cover from said first opening to said second opening.

7 . The bone plate system of claim 1 , wherein said top portion of said at least one cover comprises a convex surface.

8 . The bone plate system of claim 1 , wherein said at least one bone plate hole cap comprises a through-opening extending from said first surface of said bone plate hole cap to said second surface of said bone plate hole cap.

9 . The bone plate system of claim 1 , wherein some of the plurality of through-openings in the bone plate comprises tapered internal threads, and said peripheral surface of said at least one bone plate hole cap comprises corresponding tapered external threads.

10 . The bone plate system of claim 9 , wherein said tapered configuration of said at least one bone plate hole cap comprises an angle between 2 degrees and 10 degrees.

11 . The bone plate system of claim 10 , wherein said tapered configuration of said at least one bone plate hole cap comprises an angle between 4 and 8 degrees.

12 . The bone plate system of claim 1 , wherein said at least one bone plate hole cap comprises a first thickness between said first surface and said second surface of said bone plate hole cap, said bone plate around said at least one of said plurality of through-openings comprises a second thickness between said first surface and said bone-engaging surface of said bone plate, and wherein said first thickness is the same as said second thickness.

13 . The bone plate system of claim 1 , wherein said bone plate comprises metal.

14 . The bone plate system of claim 1 , wherein said bone plate hole cap comprises metal.

15 . The bone plate system of claim 1 , wherein said bone plate hole cap comprises a polymer material.

16 . The bone plate system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of through-openings in said bone plate comprises a compression opening.

17 . The bone plate system of claim 1 , wherein said at least one bone plate hole cap comprises a plurality of bone plate hole caps.

18 . The bone plate system of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of bone fixation elements, said plurality of bone fixation elements extendable through at least some of said plurality of through-openings in said bone plate for securing said bone plate to a bone of a patient.

19 . The bone plate system of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of bone screws, said plurality of bone screws extendable through at least some of said plurality of through-openings in said bone plate for securing said bone plate to bones of a patient.

20 . The bone plate system of claim 1 , wherein said at least one cover extends completely across said at least one of said plurality of through-openings in said bone plate.

21 . The bone plate system of claim 1 , wherein said cover is press fit to said at least one bone plate hole cap.

22 . A bone plate system comprising:

a bone plate comprising a body having a first surface, a bone-engaging surface, and a plurality of through-openings extending from said first surface to said bone-engaging surface, said plurality of through-openings defining an inner surface extending between said first surface to said bone-engaging surface of said bone plate;

at least one bone plate hole cap comprising a body having a first surface, a second surface, and a peripheral surface disposed between said first surface and said second surface of said at least one bone plate hole cap, said at least one bone plate hole cap securable in at least one of said plurality of through-openings in said bone plate;

said first surface and/or said second surface of said bone plate hole cap is configured for receiving a drive tool operable for inserting and/or removing the bone plate hole cap into and/or from the bone plate;

at least one cover attachable to said at least one bone plate hole cap, said at least one cover having a top portion and a lower portion;

wherein when said bone plate hole cap is secured in said at least one of said plurality of through-openings, said second surface of said bone plate hole cap is disposed adjacent to said bone-engaging surface of said bone plate;

wherein the bone plate with the at least one bone plate hole cap secured in the one of the plurality of through-openings increases the bending strength of a portion of said bone plate across said bone plate hole cap compared to said portion of said bone plate without the bone plate hole cap; and

wherein some of the plurality of through-openings in the bone plate comprises tapered internal threads, and said peripheral surface of said at least one bone plate hole cap comprises corresponding tapered external threads.

23 . A bone plate system comprising:

a bone plate comprising a body having a first surface, a bone-engaging surface, and a plurality of through-openings extending from said first surface to said bone-engaging surface, said plurality of through-openings defining an inner surface extending between said first surface to said bone-engaging surface of said bone plate;

at least one bone plate hole cap comprising a body having a first surface, a second surface, and a peripheral surface disposed between said first surface and said second surface of said at least one bone plate hole cap, said at least one bone plate hole cap securable in at least one of said plurality of through-openings in said bone plate;

said first surface and/or said second surface of said bone plate hole cap is configured for receiving a drive tool operable for inserting and/or removing the bone plate hole cap into and/or from the bone plate;

at least one cover attachable to said at least one bone plate hole cap, said at least one cover having a top portion and a lower portion;

wherein when said bone plate hole cap is secured in said at least one of said plurality of through-openings, said second surface of said bone plate hole cap is disposed adjacent to said bone-engaging surface of said bone plate;

wherein the bone plate with the at least one bone plate hole cap secured in the one of the plurality of through-openings increases the bending strength of a portion of said bone plate across said bone plate hole cap compared to said portion of said bone plate without the bone plate hole cap; and

wherein said at least one bone plate hole cap comprises a first thickness between said first surface and said second surface of said bone plate hole cap, said bone plate around said at least one of said plurality of through-openings comprises a second thickness between said first surface and said bone-engaging surface of said bone plate, and wherein said first thickness is the same as said second thickness.

24 . A bone plate system comprising:

a bone plate comprising a body having a first surface, a bone-engaging surface, and a plurality of through-openings extending from said first surface to said bone-engaging surface, said plurality of through-openings defining an inner surface extending between said first surface to said bone-engaging surface of said bone plate;

at least one bone plate hole cap comprising a body having a first surface, a second surface, and a peripheral surface disposed between said first surface and said second surface of said at least one bone plate hole cap, said at least one bone plate hole cap securable in at least one of said plurality of through-openings in said bone plate;

said first surface and/or said second surface of said bone plate hole cap is configured for receiving a drive tool operable for inserting and/or removing the bone plate hole cap into and/or from the bone plate;

at least one cover attachable to said at least one bone plate hole cap, said at least one cover having a top portion and a lower portion;

wherein when said bone plate hole cap is secured in said at least one of said plurality of through-openings, said second surface of said bone plate hole cap is disposed adjacent to said bone-engaging surface of said bone plate;

wherein the bone plate with the at least one bone plate hole cap secured in the one of the plurality of through-openings increases the bending strength of a portion of said bone plate across said bone plate hole cap compared to said portion of said bone plate without the bone plate hole cap; and

wherein said at least one cover extends completely across said at least one of said plurality of through-openings in said bone plate.