Staple and plate hard tissue fixation

Abstract

A hard tissue fixation staple-plate interlocking device can include a recess in a staple body or a plate. The device can also include a locking part of the other of the staple body or plate. The device can be reconfigurable between an insertion configuration and an interlocked configuration. In the insertion configuration, the locking part can slide into the recess in a translation sliding motion that is parallel to a sliding motion of the legs of the staple, as the legs of the staple slide through the holes in the plate. In the interlocked configuration, the locking part can be at least partially in the recess, and recess surface portions can engage part surface portions and inhibit movement of the staple and plate out of the interlocked configuration. Also, multiple staples and screws can be interlocked with the plate, with staples being at non-parallel angles to each other.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 - 21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . A hard tissue fixation system comprising:
 a plate comprising a first hole, a second hole, and a groove extending from the first hole to the second hole, wherein the groove comprises a base, a first wall, a second wall, and an opening, and wherein the groove comprises a cross-section having a first shape; and   a staple comprising a first leg, a second leg, and a body extending from the first leg to the second leg, wherein the staple body comprises a cross-section that corresponds to the cross-section of the groove;   wherein the staple is inserted into the plate in an insertion configuration in which the staple body has a first shape such that the first staple leg is inserted into the first plate hole, the second staple leg is inserted into the second plate hole, and the staple body is inserted into the plate groove;   wherein the staple interlocks with the plate in an interlocking configuration after the staple has been inserted into the plate; and   wherein in the interlocking configuration the staple body has a second shape in which the cross-section of the staple body engages with the corresponding cross-section of the plate groove at an engagement area.   
     
     
         23 . The hard tissue fixation system of  claim 22 , wherein the engagement area comprises a first body engagement area, a second body engagement area, and a third body engagement area. 
     
     
         24 . The hard tissue fixation system of  claim 22 , wherein in the insertion configuration the first and second staple legs are parallel and extend at a first angle that is perpendicular to an axis of the staple body. 
     
     
         25 . The hard tissue fixation system of  claim 22 , wherein the plate further comprises a third hole, a fourth hole, and a second groove, a third groove, and a fourth groove. 
     
     
         26 . The hard tissue fixation system of  claim 25 , wherein the staple further comprises a third leg, a fourth leg, and a second body extending from the third leg to the fourth leg. 
     
     
         27 . The hard tissue fixation system of  claim 26 , wherein the first staple body intersects with the second staple body 
     
     
         28 . The hard tissue fixation system of  claim 27 , wherein the staple further comprises a fifth leg that extends from the intersection of the first and second staple bodies. 
     
     
         29 . The hard tissue fixation system of  claim 27 , wherein the first staple body intersects with the second staple body at a right angle. 
     
     
         30 . The hard tissue fixation system of  claim 27 , wherein in the interlocking configuration the first and second staple legs are angled such that the first and second legs are not parallel to each other; and wherein the third and fourth staple legs are angled such that the third and fourth legs are not parallel to each other; and wherein the staple further comprises a fifth leg that is parallel to a longitudinal central axis of the staple. 
     
     
         31 . The hard tissue fixation system of  claim 22 , wherein the plate comprises a third hole in line with the first and second holes and spaced apart from the second hole on a side opposite the first hold, and wherein the staple body extends from the first hole to third hole with the legs of the stable inserting in the first and third holes and the body of the staple spanning the second hole positioned between the first and third holes. 
     
     
         32 . The hard tissue fixation system of  claim 31 , wherein plate comprises a fourth and a fifth hole positioned on either side of the second hole extending in a line at an angle to the line of the first, second, and third holes; and wherein a second staple body extends from the fourth hole to the fifth hole with the legs of the staple inserting in the fourth and fifth holes and the body of the staple spanning the second hole positioned between the fourth and fifth holes. 
     
     
         33 . The hard tissue fixation system of  claim 22 , wherein in the insertion configuration, the body of the staple is aligned with the groove, and wherein the body of the staple is narrower than the opening in the groove such that the staple may be removed from the groove. 
     
     
         34 . The hard tissue fixation system of  claim 33 , wherein the staple body extends from the first leg to the second leg without curving when the staple body is in the insertion shape; and wherein the staple body extends from the first leg to the second leg with curving when the staple body is in the interlocking configuration. 
     
     
         35 . The hard tissue fixation system of  claim 33 , wherein in the interlocking configuration, the body of the staple is non-aligned with the groove such that an incongruity between an alignment of the body and an alignment of the groove impairs removal of the staple from the plate. 
     
     
         36 . A hard tissue fixation system comprising:
 a plate comprising a first hole, a second hole, a third hole, a groove connecting the first hole, second hole, and the third hole, wherein the groove comprises a floor, a first wall, a second wall, and an opening; and   a staple comprising a first leg, a second leg, and a body extending from the first leg to the second leg, wherein the staple body comprises a cross-section corresponding to a cross-section of the groove, the cross-section having a base, a first face, and a second face;   wherein a width of the staple body base is less than a width of the groove opening;   wherein the staple is inserted into the plate in an insertion configuration in which the staple body has a first configuration such that the first staple leg is inserted into the first plate hole, the second staple leg is inserted into the second hole, and the staple body is inserted into the plate groove;   wherein the staple interlocks with the plate in an interlocking configuration after the staple has been inserted into the plate;   wherein in the interlocking configuration the staple body has a second configuration, in which the first face of the staple body engages with the first wall of the groove at a first engagement area; and   wherein the change in configuration from the first configuration to the second configuration impairs removal of the staple from the groove.   
     
     
         37 . The hard tissue fixation system of  claim 36 , wherein the third hole is configured to accommodate a screw or a leg of a staple. 
     
     
         38 . The hard tissue fixation system of  claim 36 , wherein in the interlocking configuration the second face of the staple body engages with the second wall of the groove at a second engagement area; and wherein in the interlocking configuration the first face of the staple body further engages with the first wall of the groove at a third engagement area. 
     
     
         39 . The hard tissue fixation system of  claim 36 , wherein the staple body extends in the groove from the first leg positioned in the first hole to the second leg positioned in the third hole, passing over the second hole, which is positioned between the first hole and the second hole. 
     
     
         40 . The hard tissue fixation system of  claim 36 , wherein the plate further comprises a fourth hole, a fifth hole, and a second groove. 
     
     
         41 . The hard tissue fixation system of  claim 40 , wherein the staple further comprises a third leg, a fourth leg, and a second body extending from the third leg to the fourth leg; and wherein the second staple body extends in the second groove from the third leg positioned in the fourth hole to the fourth leg positioned in the fifth hole.