IP Library Granted Patent US 7,837,689
Granted Patent B2
US 7,837,689 · App. 11/904,504 · Granted Nov 23, 2010

Plate holder assembly having bone plate seating confirmation arrangement

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,837,689
App. No.
11/904,504
Granted
Nov 23, 2010
Kind
B2
Abstract

An assembly includes a plate holder having a body. The assembly further includes a stop structure movable in relation to the body between a first location and a second location. In addition, the assembly includes a bone plate assembly including (i) a bone plate having a plurality of fastener openings defined therein, the bone plate being attached to the body, and (ii) a fastener guide. One of the bone plate and the fastener guide includes a channel, and the other of the bone plate and the fastener guide includes a projection configured to be received in the channel.

Claims (83)

1. An assembly, comprising:

a plate holder having a body;

a stop structure movable in relation to said body between a first location and a second location; and

an actuator movable between a first position and a second position,

wherein movement of said actuator from said first position to said second position causes movement of said stop structure from said first location to said second location,

further comprising a support member that includes (i) a first visual indicator, and (ii) a second visual indicator that is spaced apart from said first visual indicator,

wherein said actuator further includes a knob positioned adjacent to said support member,

wherein said actuator defines a viewing opening,

wherein said viewing opening is aligned with said first visual indicator when said actuator is positioned at said first position,

wherein said viewing opening is aligned with said second visual indicator when said actuator is positioned at said second position,

further comprising a bone plate assembly including (i) a bone plate having a plurality of fastener openings defined therein, said bone plate being attached to said body, and (ii) a fastener guide,

wherein one of said bone plate and said fastener guide includes a channel,

wherein the other of said bone plate and said fastener guide includes a projection configured to be received in said channel,

wherein said bone plate includes a first seating surface,

wherein said fastener guide includes a second seating surface,

wherein, when said projection is received within said channel, said bone plate assembly is positionable between a seated state and an unseated state,

wherein, when said bone plate assembly is in said seated state, said second seating surface is positioned in contact with said first seating surface,

wherein, when said bone plate assembly is in said unseated state, said second seating surface is spaced apart from said first seating surface,

wherein, said stop structure defines a path of movement from said first location to said second location,

wherein, when said bone plate assembly is in said unseated state, said fastener guide is positioned in said path of movement of said stop structure, and

wherein, when said bone plate assembly is in said seated state, said fastener guide is spaced apart from said path of movement of said stop structure.

2. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein said bone plate assembly further includes a fastener at least partially positioned within said fastener guide.

3. An assembly, comprising:

a plate holder having a body;

a stop structure movable in relation to said body between a first location and a second location; and

an actuator movable between a first position and a second position,

wherein movement of said actuator from said first position to said second position causes movement of said stop structure from said first location to said second location,

wherein:

said actuator includes a cam, and

movement of said cam causes movement of said stop structure, and

wherein:

said actuator further includes (i) a knob, and (ii) a shaft attached to said knob,

said shaft is further attached to said cam, and

rotation of said knob causes rotation of said cam,

further comprising (i) a support member attached to said plate holder, (ii) a detent, and (iii) a spring, wherein:

said support member defines a first aperture and a second aperture,

said detent is interposed between said support member and said knob,

said spring is interposed between said detent and said knob,

said detent is positioned in said first aperture when said actuator is positioned at said first position, and

said detent is positioned in said second aperture when said actuator is positioned at said second position.

4. An assembly, comprising:

a plate holder having a body;

a stop structure movable in relation to said body between a first location and a second location; and

a bone plate assembly including (i) a bone plate having a plurality of fastener openings defined therein, said bone plate being attached to said body, and (ii) a fastener guide,

wherein one of said bone plate and said fastener guide includes a channel,

wherein the other of said bone plate and said fastener guide includes a projection configured to be received in said channel,

wherein:

said bone plate includes a first seating surface,

said fastener guide includes a second seating surface,

when said projection is received within said channel, said bone plate assembly is positionable between a seated state and an unseated state,

when said bone plate assembly is in said seated state, said second seating surface is positioned in contact with said first seating surface,

when said bone plate assembly is in said unseated state, said second seating surface is spaced apart from said first seating surface,

said stop structure defines a path of movement from said first location to said second location,

when said bone plate assembly is in said unseated state, said fastener guide is positioned in said path of movement of said stop structure, and

when said bone plate assembly is in said seated state, said fastener guide is spaced apart from said path of movement of said stop structure,

wherein said assembly further comprises an actuator configured to move said stop structure between said first location and said second location, and

wherein said actuator includes a cam, and movement of said cam causes movement of said stop structure.

5. The assembly of claim 4 , wherein said bone plate assembly further includes a fastener at least partially positioned within said fastener guide.

6. The assembly of claim 4 , wherein:

said actuator further includes (i) a knob, and (ii) a shaft attached to said knob,

said shaft is further attached to said cam, and

rotation of said knob causes rotation of said cam.

7. The assembly of claim 6 , further comprising (i) a support member attached to said plate holder, (ii) a detent, and (iii) a spring, wherein:

said support member defines a first aperture and a second aperture,

said detent is interposed between said support member and said knob,

said spring is interposed between said detent and said knob,

said detent is positioned in said first aperture when said stop structure is positioned at said first location, and

said detent is positioned in said second aperture when said stop structure is positioned at said second location.

8. The assembly of claim 7 , wherein:

said knob is rotatable about an axis, and

rotation of said knob 180° about said axis causes movement of said stop structure from said first location to said second location.

9. The assembly of claim 4 , further comprising a guide component attached to said plate holder, said guide component having a plurality of guide holes defined therein.

10. The assembly of claim 9 , wherein said guide component includes a handle portion having said plurality of guide holes defined therein.

11. The assembly of claim 4 , further comprising a support member that includes (i) a first indicator, and (ii) a second indicator that is spaced apart from said first indicator, wherein:

said actuator further includes a knob positioned adjacent to said support member,

said actuator defines a viewing opening,

said viewing opening is aligned with said first indicator when said actuator is positioned at said first position, and

said viewing opening is aligned with said second indicator when said actuator is positioned at said second position.

12. The assembly of claim 4 , wherein:

said body of said plate holder defines a viewing hole,

said stop structure includes a visual indicator,

said viewing hole is aligned with said visual indicator when said actuator is positioned at said second position, and

said viewing hole is misaligned with said visual indicator when said actuator is positioned at said first position.

Assignments (2)
NUNC PRO TUNC ASSIGNMENT Recorded Jul 2, 2024
From: BIOMET C.V.
To: ZIMMER GMBH
Reel/Frame 068233/0456 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 17, 2012
From: DEPUY PRODUCTS, INC.
To: BIOMET C.V.
Reel/Frame 028565/0519 →