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

Claim 21:
22. A method of assembling a surgical bone plate and fastener caddy, the method comprising the steps of:
a) providing the bone plate, said bone plate comprising first and second, spaced apart segments connected by a middle portion, wherein each of the first and second segments comprises a top surface, a bottom surface, an indented section, and first and second bone plate fastener apertures, wherein in each of the first and second segments the indented section is between the first and second bone plate fastener apertures of said segment and has a first peripheral edge, a second peripheral edge, and a width extending across the indented section from the first peripheral edge to the second peripheral edge;
b) providing the fastener caddy, said 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, wherein the first caddy fastener aperture extends from a top fastener opening to a bottom fastener opening, wherein the first caddy fastener aperture includes an interior surface, and wherein a plurality of deflectable ribs are formed on the interior surface of the first caddy fastener aperture;
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, wherein the second caddy fastener aperture extends from a top fastener opening to a bottom fastener opening, wherein the second caddy fastener aperture includes an interior surface, and wherein a plurality of deflectable ribs are formed on the interior surface of the second caddy fastener aperture; and
iii) a central portion located between the first and second bodies such that a gap is formed between the first and second bodies above the central portion; and

c) connecting the central portion of the caddy to the first and second peripheral edges of the indented section of the first bone plate segment such that the first caddy fastener aperture is aligned with the first bone plate fastener aperture of the first bone plate segment and the second caddy fastener aperture is aligned with the second bone fastener plate aperture of the first bone plate segment and such that the central portion removably connects the caddy to the first bone plate segment at first and second connections across the width of the indented section of the bone plate segment between the first and second bodies of the caddy and between the first and second bone plate fastener apertures of the first bone plate segment.