BONE PLATING SYSTEM

摘要

A bone plating system (10) has a plate (12) and a locking element (14). The plate has a bone screw aperture (24) defined by a sidewall including first and second substantially planar segments (40A, 40B). The locking element is coupled to the plate and at least partially positioned in the aperture. The locking element has an external geometry defining first and second substantially planar surfaces (6OA, 60B) and an internal geometry for receiving a head (46) of a bone fastener (16) and preventing the bone fastener from backing out of the plate. The locking element is expandable from a first state to a second state. In the first state the locking element is permitted to articulate relative to the plate. In the second state the first and second substantially planar surfaces of the locking element engage the first and second substantially planar segments of the aperture sidewall, respectively, to prevent relative movement between the locking element and the plate.