Patent attributes
A bone plate holder apparatus having a hollow shaft, two or more prongs at a working end, and a rod slidingly disposed within the shaft can be attached with a bone plate such that the prongs interact with a fenestration in the bone plate. When the rod is depressed between the prongs, working surfaces of the prongs grip the interior surfaces of the fenestration, causing the bone plate holder apparatus to lock to the bone plate. Bone plate holder systems including a bone plate holder apparatus and bone plate can be used to install a bone plate in a surgical site in a patient, and the locking and unlocking functionality of the bone plate holder apparatus can permit adjustment of an angle of the bone plate holder apparatus relative to the bone plate with ease during surgery.