US Patent 7341591 Anterior buttress staple

An anterior buttress staple and screw system is provided that can be used to hold an implant such as a disc prosthesis in place and thereby prevent its migration out of the spinal column. The buttress staple comprises a screw locking plate having a screw locking design that prevents the screw from backing up and away from the plate. The screw is configured to provide an interference fit with the screw locking plate, and can be used as a staple removal tool during revision surgery when the screw locking plate needs to be lifted from the bone surface on which it is attached.