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Method of implanting a bone plate

  • US 10,159,514 B2
  • Filed: 11/30/2015
  • Issued: 12/25/2018
  • Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2011
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A method of implanting a bone plate in a patient, the method comprising:

  • advancing distal, spaced-apart gripping members of an inserter tool into an opening of the bone plate, each of the gripping members including a proximal portion and a distal portion, the gripping members including a pivotal gripping member that is pivotal relative to a pivot body of the inserter tool and a fixed gripping member that is fixed relative to the pivot body, the proximal portion of the pivotal gripping member being pivotally coupled to the pivot body by a pivot pin and supported thereon and the proximal portion of the fixed gripping member being fixedly coupled to the pivot body and supported thereon;

    shifting a grip control shaft of the inserter tool coupled to the pivot body in a first direction along a longitudinal axis of an elongated shaft of the inserter tool to pivot the pivotal gripping member relative to the pivot body of the inserter tool and away from the fixed gripping member to grip the bone plate with the distal portions of the gripping members and connect the bone plate to the pivot body of the inserter tool in a first orientation relative to the inserter tool;

    advancing the bone plate in the first orientation through a surgical channel formed in tissue toward at least one bone of the patient;

    pivoting a gripping portion of a proximal pivot lever of the inserter tool, the pivot lever being pivotally connected to a fixed distal handle of the inserter tool and pivotal about a first pivot axis defined by the connection between the pivot lever and the fixed distal handle, the pivot lever being connected to the pivot body by an elongated pivot member, the pivot body being pivotally connected to the elongated shaft of the inserter tool and pivotal about a second pivot axis defined by the connection between the pivot body and the elongated shaft of the inserter tool;

    wherein pivoting the gripping portion includes pivoting the gripping portion distally toward the fixed distal handle of the inserter tool about the first pivot axis extending perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the elongated shaft of the inserter tool which causes the pivot body, the pivotal gripping member, and the fixed gripping member to pivot together about the second pivot axis extending perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the elongated shaft of the inserter tool and pivots the bone plate connected to the pivot body from the first orientation to a second orientation relative to the inserter tool, the second orientation being different than the first orientation;

    positioning the bone plate in the second orientation in contact with the at least one bone;

    securing the bone plate to the at least one bone, wherein securing the bone plate to the at least one bone includes driving a shank of at least one bone anchor through at least one opening of the bone plate and into the at least one bone; and

    shifting the grip control shaft of the inserter tool in a second direction opposite to the first direction along the longitudinal axis to pivot the pivotal gripping member relative to the pivot body and toward the fixed gripping member to release the gripping members and disconnect the pivot body of the inserter tool from the bone plate secured to the at least one bone.

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