Patent ID: 8740909

Claim:
A method for connecting a bone plate to a guiding device for anchoring the bone plate to a bone comprising: providing a guiding device having two hook-shaped elements and positioning arm, the positioning arm having a snapping mechanism thereon; providing a bone plate having an outwardly facing surface, a bone contacting surface and an outer side surface connecting the outwardly facing surface to the bone contacting surface, first and second spaced protrusions each having a contact surface extending outwardly of the body from the outer side surface to the guiding device, the protrusions for engaging the hook-shaped elements located on the guiding device, the hook-shaped elements each having an inner surface for rotationally engaging a respective contact surface of protrusions, wherein an axis extends between the first protrusion contact surface and the second protrusion contact surface with the hook-shaped engaging elements partially encircling the axis when hooked onto the first and second protrusions, the bone plate having an interlocking element formed on the outer side surface thereof intermediate the first and second spaced protrusions, the interlocking element including a recess open towards the bone contacting surface of the body forming a ledge at the outwardly facing surface of the body, the interlocking element for engaging the snapping mechanism located on the positioning arm; connecting the bone plate to the guiding device by engaging the hook-shaped elements on the guiding device with the protrusions on the bone plate; rotating the guide device towards the bone plate outwardly facing surface; and inserting the snapping mechanism of the positioning arm in the interlocking element of the bone plate to connect the bone plate and guiding device.