Patent ID: 7201753

Claim:
A fixation device for connecting bone portions comprising: a first plate and a second plate, each plate having a top surface, a bottom surface for contacting bone, and at least one fixation bore extending from the top surface to the bottom surface; at least one member associated with at least one of the plates; and a releasably lockable joint, wherein: the at least one member permits translation of the plates with respect to each other along a translation axis, and the releasably lockable joint permits swiveling of the plates with respect to each other about a swivel axis oriented transverse to the translation axis, the releasably lockable joint comprises a first clamping member disposed in a sleeve, the first clamping member configured and dimensioned to exert a force against the sleeve, and the releasably lockable joint further comprising a straining member for translating the first clamping member with respect to the sleeve, and the translation of the plates is lockable independently of the swiveling of the plates and the swiveling of the plates is lockable independently of the translation of the plates.