Bone fixation system with fasteners and a removal tool for decoupling of the fasteners
A locking clip for retaining a fastener in a bone fixation plate, the locking clip comprising a flexure member and a body member coupled to the flexure member, the body member comprising a locking tab, the locking tab configured to provide an axial limitation to motion of the fastener in a non-rotationally-ratcheting manner, the flexure member resiliently flexible to permit displacement of the locking tab to allow passage of a fastener head of the fastener, the locking tab configured to translate a downward force of the fastener head into a lateral spreading force to effect the displacement, the body member defining a clip tool engagement cavity for translational displacement of the locking tab.
1. A bone fixation plate assembly, comprising:
a bone fixation plate including a fastener hole and a clip cavity adjacent to the fastener hole; and
a locking clip comprising:
a flexure member having a partial circular shape and situated at least in part in the clip cavity; and
a locking tab having a convex shape extending inward relative to the partial circular shape of the flexure member;
wherein the flexure member is resiliently flexible to permit displacement of the locking tab to allow passage of a fastener head of a fastener;
wherein a spring tension of the flexure member in a displaced state biases the locking tab to return to a neutral position once the fastener head has passed below an underside surface of the locking tab; and
wherein the locking tab is configured to provide an axial limitation to motion of the fastener in a non-rotationally-ratcheting manner.
2. The bone fixation plate assembly of claim 1 , wherein the fastener hole includes a bottom taper configured to receive a tapered surface of a head of a fastener at either of an angled and a perpendicular approach relative to the bone fixation plate.
3. The bone fixation plate assembly of claim 1 , wherein the clip cavity is radially oriented to correspond to the partial circular shape of the flexure member.
4. The bone fixation plate assembly of claim 1 , the clip cavity is sized to allow flex of the flexure member within the clip cavity when the flexure member is in a displaced state.
5. A bone fixation plate assembly, comprising:
a bone fixation plate comprising:
a fastener hole; and
a clip cavity located adjacent to the fastener hole and radially oriented around at least a portion of the fastener hole; and
a locking clip comprising:
a flexure member situated at least in part in the clip cavity; and
a locking tab having a convex shape extending inward toward a center of the fastener hole;
wherein the flexure member is resiliently flexible to permit displacement of the locking tab to allow passage of a fastener head of a fastener;
wherein a spring tension of the flexure member in a displaced state biases the locking tab to return to a neutral position once the fastener head has passed below an underside surface of the locking tab; and
wherein the locking tab is configured to provide an axial limitation to motion of the fastener in a non-rotationally-ratcheting manner.
6. The bone fixation plate assembly of claim 5 , wherein the fastener hole includes a bottom taper configured to receive a tapered surface of a head of a fastener at either of an angled and a perpendicular approach relative to the bone fixation plate.
7. The bone fixation plate assembly of claim 5 , wherein the clip cavity is sized to allow flex of the flexure member within the clip cavity when the flexure member is in a displaced state.
8. A bone fixation plate assembly, comprising:
a bone fixation plate comprising:
a fastener hole; and
a clip cavity located adjacent to the fastener hole; and
a locking clip comprising:
a flexure member situated at least in part in the clip cavity; and
two locking tabs each having a convex shape extending inward toward a center of the fastener hole, the two locking tabs respectively positioned at opposing locations relative to each other;
wherein the flexure member is resiliently flexible to permit displacement of at least one of the two locking tabs to allow passage of a fastener head of a fastener;
wherein a spring tension of the flexure member in a displaced state biases the at least one of the two locking tabs to return to a neutral position once the fastener head has passed below an underside surface of the locking tab; and
wherein the two locking tabs are each configured to provide an axial limitation to motion of the fastener in a non-rotationally-ratcheting manner.
9. The bone fixation plate assembly of claim 8 , wherein the fastener hole includes a bottom taper configured to receive a tapered surface of a head of a fastener at either of an angled and a perpendicular approach relative to the bone fixation plate.
10. The bone fixation plate assembly of claim 8 , wherein the clip cavity is radially oriented to correspond to a partial circular shape of the flexure member.
11. The bone fixation plate assembly of claim 8 , wherein the clip cavity is sized to allow flex of the flexure member within the clip cavity when the flexure member is in a displaced state.