Patent ID: 8172886

Claim:
A bone plate system for use with a plurality of fasteners, each fastener having a shaft defining a longitudinal axis and a threaded head, the threaded head having a recessed tool engagement feature of a non-circular configuration transverse to the longitudinal axis, the tool engagement feature located in an upper surface of the head for receiving a distal end of a rotational driver, the system comprising: a) a bone plate having a plurality of threaded holes, each threaded hole configured to threadedly engage the threaded head of one of the fasteners and defining a respective fixed hole axis, said plate having a bone contacting first surface, an opposite second surface, and a thickness extending in a dimension between said first and second surfaces; b) a plurality of removable tubular drill guide tips threadedly engaged within said plurality of threaded holes of said bone plate in axial alignment with said fixed hole axes, each drill guide tip having an external surface, a bore defining an internal surface, a proximal guiding end, a distal externally threaded end for engagement with said threaded holes, and a longitudinal axis extending through a radial center of said bore, said external surface of said drill guide tip having a body portion with a length that extends above said second surface of said bone plate by more than said thickness of said bone plate, yet said length is sufficiently short so that said body portion does not interfere with a body portion of an adjacent drill guide tip, and said external surface of said drill guide tip has a stop structure that prevents said drill guide tip from being driven through said plate, and a portion of said body portion that tapers away from the distal end proximal of said stop structure; and c) a first instrument adapted to apply a rotational torque to said inner surface of said drill guide tip sufficient to remove said drill guide tip from engagement with said bone plate.