Patent ID: 7922724

Claim:
A method comprising: inserting an orthopedic implant into a bone, said implant including an extending portion; inserting an elongated member adjacent to said implant; providing an apparatus including a plate having an aperture and a shaft having an elongated portion extending along a longitudinal axis and pivotally connected to said plate, said elongated portion of said shaft being linearly displaceable along said longitudinal axis between a first axial position and a second axial position; inserting said extending portion of said implant into said aperture of said plate while said shaft is in said second axial position; and moving said elongated portion of said shaft linearly along said longitudinal axis from said second axial position to said first axial position to pivot said plate from a first angular position relative to said shaft to a second angular position relative to said shaft so that said plate secures to said extending portion of said implant.