Patent ID: 8617222

Claim:
A bone plate system comprising: a body portion having a length comprising: a plurality of attachment-mechanism openings for receiving a plurality of attachment mechanisms configured for engaging bone; at least one locking-member opening adjacent to at least two of the plurality of attachment-mechanism openings, the at least one locking-member opening sized and shaped to receive a locking member configured to secure at least two of the plurality of attachment mechanisms to the body portion; a bone-engaging surface for positioning adjacent to a bone; a slot extending along a majority of the length of the body portion for receiving an insert, the slot comprising a recess in the bone-engaging surface; an insert for positioning within the slot of the body portion, the insert having at least one opening extending therethrough, the at least one opening positioned such that when the insert is received within the slot the at least one opening is aligned with the at least one locking-member opening; and at least one locking member for engaging with the at least one locking-member opening of the body portion, the at least one locking member sized and shaped such that when the locking member is engaged with the locking-member opening a portion of the locking member extends into the at least one opening of the insert and fixedly secures to the body portion at least two of the plurality of attachment mechanisms received within the at least two of the plurality of attachment-mechanism openings that are adjacent to the at least one locking-member opening.