Patent ID: 7749256

Claim:
A bone plate device comprising: a first plate member adapted to be secured to a bone; a second plate member adapted to be secured to a bone and coupled to said first plate member; said first plate member including a first base section and first and second arms spaced from one another and extending from the first base section towards the second plate, the first base section and the first and second arms defining a first gap; said second plate member including a second base section and third and fourth arms spaced apart from one another and extending from the second base section toward said first plate member, said third arm engaging said first arm and said fourth arm engaging said second arm, the second base section and the third and fourth arms defining a second gap; said first plate member having first and second toothed sections thereon disposed on opposite sides of a longitudinal axis of said bone plate device, each of said toothed sections comprising a plurality of teeth; a spring member engaging said second plate member and displaceably engaging said first and second toothed sections; a groove extending along said third arm, across said second base section, and along said fourth arm; wherein said spring member is disposed in said groove; wherein engagement of said spring member and said toothed sections enables progressive sliding advancement of said plate members toward one another and limits movement of said plate members away from one another; the first and second gaps together form a single visualization port that is adjustable in size depending upon an amount of the sliding advancement of said plate members.