Compressible bone staple

Claim 2

A bone staple for compressibly sustaining joinder of first and second bone segments, said bone staple comprising: (a) a first staple leg for securely penetrating said first bone segment; (b) a second staple leg for securely penetrating said second bone segment; and (c) ratchet means for compressibly coupling said first and second staple legs together and for lockably positioning said staple legs a selected distance apart from one another, said ratchet means and said staple legs forming a "U" shape with no projections of said ratchet means above the intersections of said ratchet means with said first and second staple legs respectively, said ratchet means ratchetably engaging inside said "U" shape.

Claim 3

Bone stapling apparatus for compressibly sus­taining joinder of first and second bone segments, said apparatus comprising: (a) a bone staple, comprising: (i) a first staple leg for securely pene­trating a first aperture in said first bone segment; (ii) a second staple leg for securely pene­trating a second aperture in said second bone segment; and, (iii) ratchet means for compressibly coupling said first and second staple legs toge­ther and for lockably positioning said staple legs a selected distance apart from one another, said ratchet means and said staple legs forming a "U" shape with no projections of said ratchet means above the intersections of said ratchet means with said first and second staple legs respectively, said ratchet means ratchetably engaging inside said "U" shape; and (b) drill guide means for guiding passage of a drill through said first and second bone seg­ments to drill said first and second apertures longitudinally parallel to one another.

Claim 4

Bone stapling apparatus for compressibly sus­taining joinder of first and second bone segments, said apparatus comprising: (a) a bone staple, comprising: (i) a first staple leg for securely pene­trating a first aperture in said first bone segment; (ii) a second staple leg for securely pene­trating a second aperture in said second bone segment; and, (iii) ratchet means for compressibly coupling said first and second staple legs toge­ther and for lockably positioning said staple legs a selected distance apart from one another, said ratchet means and said staple legs forming a "U" shape with no projections of said ratchet means above the intersections of said ratchet means with said first and second staple legs respectively, said ratchet means ratchetably engaging inside said "U" shape; and (b) drill guide means for guiding passage of a drill through said first and second bone seg­ments to drill said first and second apertures longitudinally parallel to one another.

Claim 5

A bone staple as defined in claim 1 or 2, wherein said ratchet means comprises: (a) a first toothed member affixed to said first leg to project at an angle therefrom; (b) a guide member affixed to said second leg to project at an angle therefrom, said guide mem­ber for coupling with said first toothed mem­ber, thereby positioning said first leg rela­tive to said second leg; and, (c) a second toothed member coupled to said guide member for ratchetably engaging said first toothed member.

Claim 6

A bone staple as defined in claim 3, wherein said first toothed member projects from said first leg at an angle of about ninety degrees and wherein said guide member projects from said second leg at an angle of about ninety degrees.

Claim 7

A bone staple as defined in claim 3, further comprising shield means on said guide member for pre­venting fouling of the region in which said first toothed member ratchetably engages said second toothed member.

Claim 8

A bone staple as defined in claim 3, further comprising gripping means on said first and second legs respectively for gripping of said staple by a staple manipulating tool.

Claim 9

A bone staple as defined in claim 3, further comprising: (a) reinforcing means affixed between said first leg and said first toothed member for holding said first leg in position relative to said first toothed member when force is applied to said bone staple; and, (b) reinforcing means affixed between said second leg and said guide member for holding said second leg in position relative to said guide member when force is applied to said bone staple.

Claim 10

A bone staple as defined in claim 3, wherein said staple legs each comprise retention means for retaining said legs within bone into which said staple is driven.

Claim 11

A bone staple as defined in claim 3, wherein said staple legs are of different lengths.

Claim 12

A bone staple as defined in claim 3, wherein said staple legs are round in cross-section.

Claim 13

A bone staple as defined in claim 3, further comprising a hooked projection on the end of one of said staple legs.

Claim 14

A bone staple as defined in claim 3, further comprising hooked projections on the lower ends of each of said staple legs.

Claim 15

A bone staple as defined in claim 3, wherein said first toothed member is stepped.

Claim 16

A bone staple as defined, in claim 3, further comprising an aperture through said first member and a wire for passage through said aperture and fastening over said second staple leg.

Claim 17

A bone staple as defined in claim 1 or 2, wherein said ratchet means comprises: (a) a first apertured guide member affixed to said first staple leg; (b) a second apertured guide member affixed to said second staple leg; (c) a first toothed member for slidable insertion within said first and second guide members; (d) a second toothed member ratchetably engageable with said first toothed member to hold said first toothed member in position relative to said first staple leg; and, (e) a third toothed member ratchetably engageable with said first toothed member to hold said first toothed member in position relative to said second staple leg.