Orthopedic staple and related instruments

Abstract

A method to remove a memory metal orthopedic staple from that is implanted in a bone repair site is disclosed. The orthopedic staple is in its relaxed state and the method includes (a) attaching an inserter tool/cartridge assembly to the orthopedic staple's bridge portion; (b) actuating the inserter tool to change the orthopedic staple from its relaxed state to its insertion state in which the two legs of the orthopedic staple are substantially parallel to each other; and (c) removing the orthopedic staple from the bone repair site.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A method to remove an orthopedic staple that is implanted in a bone repair site in its relaxed state, wherein the orthopedic staple comprises a first leg and a second leg connected by a curved bridge portion having two ends, wherein each of the two ends of the bridge portion transition down to the first leg and the second leg, respectively, the method comprising:
 (a) attaching an inserter tool/cartridge assembly to the orthopedic staple's bridge portion;   (b) actuating the inserter tool to change the orthopedic staple from its relaxed state to its insertion state in which the two legs of the orthopedic staple are substantially parallel to each other; and   (c) removing the orthopedic staple from the bone repair site.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the inserter tool/cartridge assembly comprises a channel that is sized to receive the curved bridge portion of the orthopedic staple and hold the orthopedic staple by an interference fit, and the step (a) includes engaging the channel to the curved bridge portion so that the curved bridge portion is positioned within the channel. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the inserter tool/cartridge assembly comprises a pushrod that is configured to extend into the channel by operation of a lever mechanism, and engage the curved bridge portion of the orthopedic staple to change the orthopedic staple from the relaxed state to the insertion state, and the step (b) comprises actuating the lever mechanism of the inserter tool. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising inserting a flat blade-like tool between the orthopedic staple's bridge portion and bone surface of the bone repair site and lifting the orthopedic staple's bridge portion away from the bone surface, creating a space between the orthopedic staple's bridge portion and the bone surface, before the step (a). 
     
     
         5 . A method to remove an orthopedic staple that is implanted in a bone repair site in its relaxed state, wherein the orthopedic staple comprises a first leg and a second leg connected by a curved bridge portion having two ends, wherein each of the two ends of the bridge portion transition down to the first leg and the second leg, respectively, the method comprising:
 (a) attaching a cartridge to the orthopedic staple's bridge portion, wherein the cartridge comprises a channel that is sized to receive the curved bridge portion of the orthopedic staple and hold the orthopedic staple by an interference fit, and attaching the cartridge to the orthopedic staple's bridge portion includes engaging the channel to the curved bridge portion so that the curved bridge portion is positioned within the channel;   (b) attaching an inserter tool to the cartridge;   (c) actuating the inserter tool to change the orthopedic staple from its relaxed state to its insertion state in which the two legs of the orthopedic staple are substantially parallel to each other; and   (d) removing the orthopedic staple from the bone repair site.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the inserter tool comprises a pushrod that is configured to extend into the channel by operation of a lever mechanism, and engage the curved bridge portion of the orthopedic staple to change the orthopedic staple from the relaxed state to the insertion state, and the step (c) comprises actuating the lever mechanism of the inserter tool. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising inserting a blade between the orthopedic staple's bridge portion and bone surface of the bone repair site and lifting the orthopedic staple's bridge portion away from the bone surface, creating a space between the orthopedic staple's bridge portion and the bone surface, before the step (a).