Bone plate comprising at least one screw to be fixed at a stable angle
Disclosed is a bone plate comprising at least one screw that is to be fixed at a stable angle to at least one through-hole and at least one bone screw which is provided with an external thread in the top region. Said external thread tapers more in the screwing direction than a mating thread of the through-hole embodied as an internal thread such that the top of the bone screw is clamped in a stable direction in a torsion-proof manner when the bone screw is screwed in. The bone plate is configured elastically in at least one area adjoining the through-hole such that the material of the bone plate is not deformed in the ductile area because of the expansion resulting from the head of the bone screw being screwed in. As a consequence, the area surrounding the through-hole is not overstretched in any position of the bone screw along the entire length of the threads because of the interaction between the external thread of the top of the bone screw and the internal thread of the plate while the torsion-proof condition is maintained.
1. A bone plate for attachment to a bone surface, the bone plate comprising:
a plate comprising at least one screw hole defining a circular opening through the plate, each screw hole being at least partially surrounded by at least one elastically deformable portion of the plate; and
a screw disposed in each screw hole, each screw having a conical head with an upper thread and a shaft with a lower thread, wherein the lower thread has a pitch that is greater than the upper thread;
wherein the screw hole has a counterthread for engaging with the screw, and wherein the pitch of the upper thread is more severely tapered than the counterthread so that the head is securely clamped to the plate in an anti-rotational connection when the screw is screwed into the bone surface;
wherein screwing the lower thread of the shaft into the bone surface causes the upper thread to engage the counterthread on the screw hole;
wherein further screwing the lower thread of the shaft into the bone surface draws the head into the screw hole and widens the at least one elastically deformable portion of the plate without deforming remaining plastic portions of the plate, thereby forming tensile stress that clamps the screw to the plate and prevents unintended rotation of the screw;
wherein further screwing the lower thread of the shaft into the bone surface increases the tensile stress in the plate around the at least one screw hole as the head is brought flush with the plate.
2. The bone plate according to claim 1 , wherein further screwing of the lower thread of the shaft into the bone surface draws the head below an upper surface of the plate.
3. The bone plate according to claim 2 , further comprising a base joining the upper and lower threads in a smooth conical transition.
4. The bone plate according to claim 3 , wherein further screwing the screw into the bone surface causes the base to create space for the upper thread to engage with the bone surface.
5. The bone plate according to claim 1 , wherein two separate elastically deformable portions at least partially surround the at least one screw hole and share the tensile stress.
6. The bone plate according to claim 5 , wherein each screw hole is at least partially surrounded by constricted regions of the plate, and wherein the elastically deformable portions are formed such that the plastic regions of the plate are not deformed by expansion resulting as a consequence of the screw being screwed into the plate.
7. The bone plate according to claim 6 , wherein the elastically deformable portions of the plate are formed such that stripping of the threaded screw hole does not occur when the screw is screwed entirely vertically though the plate.
8. The bone plate according to claim 1 , wherein the elastically deformable portions of the plate are web-shaped.
9. The bone plate according to claim 1 , wherein the elastically deformable portions of the plate are annular regions.
10. The bone plate according to claim 9 , wherein the annular regions have a substantially constant width.
11. The bone plate according to claim 1 , wherein the plate has a substantially constant thickness.
12. The bone plate according to claim 1 , wherein the plate is made of titanium.
13. The bone plate according to claim 1 , wherein the screw is made of titanium.
14. The bone plate according to claim 1 , wherein the head has an internal hexagonal shape.
15. The bone plate according to claim 1 , wherein the plate is curved.