Patent ID: 7115129

Claim:
A method of maintaining at least two vertebrae in a spatial relationship with each other, the at least two vertebrae forming a bone radius of curvature, the method comprising the steps of: providing a bone compression device having a plate, the plate including a first end, a second end, a pre-formed shape, a deformed shape, and at least one elastic shape between the pre-formed shape and the deformed shape, the pre-formed shape having a pre-formed radius of curvature less than the bone radius of curvature, the deformed shape having a deformed radius of curvature greater than the bone radius of curvature, and at least one of the at least one elastic shapes having an elastic radius of curvature that substantially corresponds to the bone radius of curvature; contouring the bone compression device by moving the bone compression device from the pre-formed shape to at least one of the at least one elastic shape corresponding to the bone radius of curvature by applying straightening forces to the device; disposing the bone compression device along the bone radius of curvature; securing the bone compression device to the at least two vertebrae; and releasing the straightening forces.