Staples and staple delivery and drill guides
The present disclosure provides staples, and corresponding staple guides, for applying a compressive force between biological elements. The staples may include a bridge portion and a pair of tines extending from the bridge portion configured for implantation into biological elements. The tines may be spaced a first distance in a first state of the bridge portion. The bridge portion may be elastically deformable into a second state with the pair of tines spaced a second distance that is greater than the first distance and the tines pre-loaded to apply a compressive force therebetween. The guides may include a staple engagement portion operable to maintain the biased state of the staple, and/or a drill guide portion operable to facilitate the formation of apertures spaced the second distance in the biological elements.
1. A staple for applying a compressive force between biological elements, comprising:
a non-linearly extending bridge portion;
the bridge portion connecting a pair of tines and forming a U-shape between the pair of tines, the bridge portion bounding an open space between the pair of tines;
the pair of tines extending from the bridge portion and including free ends configured to be implanted into the biological elements, the pair of tines being spaced apart a first distance in a first state of the bridge portion;
wherein the bridge portion is elastically deformable into a second state such the pair of tines are spaced apart a second distance that is greater than the first distance; wherein each tine of the tines extends along a first direction defined between the bridge portion and the free end thereof, each of the tines include an engagement mechanism positioned on a portion of the tines that substantially faces the other tine of the pair of tines along the first direction;
wherein each engagement mechanism of the pair of tines includes:
a first portion proximate to the free end of one of the respective tines and extending toward the bridge portion;
a first ramp portion extending from the first portion toward the bridge portion and along the first direction toward the other tine of the pair of tines;
a plateau portion extending from the first ramp portion toward the bridge portion;
a second ramp portion extending from the plateau portion toward the bridge portion and along the first direction toward the other tine of the pair of tines a distance greater than the first ramp portion extends along the first direction; and
a relief portion extending from the plateau portion and at least along the first direction away from the other tine of the pair of tine, the intersection of the relief portion and the second ramp portion forming a tip.
2. The staple of claim 1 , wherein the pair of tines extend from opposing ends of the bridge portion.
3. The staple of claim 1 , wherein bridge portion comprises a substantially rectangular cross-section.
4. The staple of claim 3 , wherein the bridge portion connects to the pair of tines at tine connection points and extends downwardly between the tine connection points in a direction away from the tine connection points and closer to the free ends than the connection points are to the free ends.
5. The staple of claim 1 , wherein the bridge portion extends between the pair of tines on a first side of the pair of tines.
6. The staple of claim 5 , wherein an intermediate portion of the bridge portion is positioned furthest from of the pair of tines on the first side.
7. The staple of claim 1 , wherein the engagement mechanism of the pair of tines include at least one barb structure.
8. The staple of claim 1 , wherein the second ramp portion and the relief portion form a barb structure.
9. The staple of claim 1 , wherein each engagement mechanism of the pair of tines further includes a plurality of the barb structures.
10. The staple of claim 1 , wherein the first portion of the engagement mechanism includes a first portion proximate to the free end of the respect tine that extends toward the bridge portion and along the first direction toward the other tine of the pair of tines, and a second portion that extends from the first portion to the first ramp portion and along the first direction away from the other tine of the pair of tines.