Patent ID: 8636772

Claim:
A plate system for attachment to bone, comprising: a first plate comprising a first obverse side and a first reverse side opposite the first obverse side; a second plate comprising a second obverse side and a second reverse side opposite the second obverse side; a sleeve comprising a through hole; and a locking mechanism coupling the first plate to the second plate with the first obverse side facing the second obverse side, the sleeve between the first and second obverse sides, and a portion of the locking mechanism extending through the hole of the sleeve; wherein the locking mechanism forms a first polyaxial joint with the first plate and a second polyaxial joint with the second plate; wherein the plate assembly has an unlocked configuration and a provisionally locked configuration; wherein, in the unlocked configuration, the first and second plates independently polyaxially rotate relative to the locking mechanism and the first plate translates relative to a portion of the locking mechanism; and wherein, in the provisionally locked configuration, the first and second plates are rotationally and translationally fixed relative to the locking mechanism; wherein the locking mechanism comprises a collet, a post, and a ring, wherein the collet comprises a through hole, wherein the collet extends through the ring, wherein the post extends through the collet through hole and the sleeve through hole; wherein the plate assembly has a final locked configuration; wherein, in the final locked configuration, the collet is fixedly wedged between the ring and the post.