Patent ID: 7316687

Claim:
A bone plate assembly, comprising: a bone plate including first and second extending portions defining an angle therebetween, said first portion forming an elongate plate portion having a plate portion longitudinal axis extending along the longest dimension of said elongate plate portion and a plurality of holes therein, said second portion forming an elongate blade portion having a blade portion longitudinal axis extending along the longest dimension of said elongate blade portion, at least one hole therein, and a blade end, said blade portion longitudinal axis transverse to said plate portion longitudinal axis, said blade end having a tapered blade edge tapering along at least a portion of said longitudinal axis of said elongate blade portion, said blade portion have a first cross-section taken at a point on said blade portion longitudinal axis furthest from said plate portion and a second cross-section taken at a point on said blade portion longitudinal axis nearer said plate portion than said first cross-section, said first cross-section being less than said second cross-section, wherein said blade end facilitates the insertion of said elongate blade portion into a bone; and a screw extending through a said hole in one of said first and second portions, said screw threadingly engaging another said hole in the other of said first and second portions, and an intermediate portion of said screw between said at least one hole in said first extending portion and said at least one hole in said second extending portion capable of engaging bone, wherein said screw spans said angle between said first and second portions.