Patent ID: 11957394
Assignee: J.M. LONGYEAR MANUFACTURING, LLC
Field: Medical technology (Instruments)
Classification: CPC A | IPC A

Claim 16:
17. The method of installing fasteners into a bone plate of claim 15, further comprising the steps of:
a) providing an additional caddy comprising:
i) a first body comprising a shell portion, an elastomeric portion held by the shell portion, and a first caddy fastener aperture formed in the elastomeric portion of the first body of the additional caddy, wherein the first caddy fastener aperture of the additional caddy extends from a top fastener opening to a bottom fastener opening, wherein the first caddy fastener aperture of the additional caddy includes an interior surface, and wherein a plurality of deflectable ribs are formed on the interior surface of the first caddy fastener aperture of the additional caddy;
ii) a second body comprising a shell portion, an elastomeric portion held by the shell portion, and a second caddy fastener aperture formed in the elastomeric portion of the second body of the additional caddy, wherein the second caddy fastener aperture of the additional caddy extends from a top fastener opening to a bottom fastener opening, wherein the second caddy fastener aperture of the additional caddy includes an interior surface, and wherein a plurality of deflectable ribs are formed on the interior surface of the second caddy fastener aperture of the additional caddy;
iii) a central portion located between the first and second bodies of the additional caddy such that a gap is formed between the first and second bodies of the additional caddy above the central portion of the additional caddy;
iv) a third fastener held in the first caddy fastener aperture of the additional caddy, wherein the ribs on the interior surface of the first caddy fastener aperture of the additional caddy hold the third fastener; and
v) a fourth fastener held in the second caddy fastener aperture of the additional caddy, wherein the ribs on the interior surface of the second caddy fastener aperture of the additional caddy hold the fourth fastener;

b) connecting the central portion of the additional caddy to the first and second peripheral edges of the indented section of the second segment of the bone plate such that the first caddy fastener aperture of the additional caddy is aligned with the first bone plate fastener aperture of the second segment of the bone plate and the second caddy fastener aperture of the additional caddy is aligned with the second bone fastener plate aperture of the second segment of the bone plate and such that the central portion of the additional caddy removably connects the caddy to the second segment of the bone plate at first and second connections across the width of the indented section of the second segment of the bone plate between the first and second bodies of the additional caddy and between the first and second bone plate fastener apertures of the second segment of the bone plate;
c) while the central portion of the additional caddy connects the additional caddy to the second segment of the bone plate, advancing each of the first and second fastener through bottom openings of the first and second bone plate fastener apertures of the additional caddy, respectively, to secure the bone plate to a bone, wherein the ribs on the interior surface of the first caddy fastener aperture of the additional caddy deflect as the third fastener is advanced, and wherein the ribs on the interior surface of the second caddy fastener aperture of the additional caddy deflect as the fourth fastener is advanced; and
d) removing the additional caddy from the bone plate.