Transbuccal plate holding cannula

1. A method for engaging and holding a bone plate during osteofixation, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) advancing a bone plate near a bone, the bone plate comprising a front surface and an opposing rear surface, at least one hole extending from the front surface to the rear surface, and at least a pair of opposing recesses on the rear surface;

(b) advancing a bone plate holder near the front surface of the bone plate such that the bone plate holder abuts the front surface of the bone plate, the bone plate holder including at least two longitudinally extending fingers, the fingers including distal tips;

(c) placing the at least two distal tips within the recesses of the bone plate, securing the bone plate relative to the bone plate holder such that the bone plate holder abuts the front surface of the bone plate while the distal fingers abut the rear surface of the bone plate;

(d) securing the bone plate to the bone; and

(e) releasing the bone plate holder from the bone plate.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the distal tips are bent radially inward.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the fingers are biased toward a closed position.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein the fingers are biased toward an open position.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the bone plate holder further comprises an outer tubular member having a distal end and a proximal end, a distal end opening and a proximal end opening, the outer tubular member defining an inner passageway extending from the proximal end to the distal end, the outer tubular member including at least two longitudinal slots located near the distal end providing slot openings to the inner passageway.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the bone plate holder further comprises an inner sleeve positioned within the outer tubular member, and the at least two distal, longitudinally extending fingers extend from the inner sleeve.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising sliding the inner sleeve within the outer tubular member.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising sliding the inner sleeve distally to expand the distal fingers and thereafter sliding the inner sleeve proximally to contract the distal fingers to grasp the bone plate.

9. The method of claim 6 wherein the inner sleeve of the bone plate holder comprises a hollow interior defining an inner sleeve passageway and the bone plate holder further comprises a central rod extending through the inner sleeve passageway and extending beyond the distal end of the outer tubular member, the central rod comprising a blunt point.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising removing the central rod before grasping the bone plate with the bone plate holder.

11. The method of claim 6 further comprising the step of maintaining a constant rearward pressure on the inner sleeve relative to the outer tubular member such that the finger tips securely hold the bone plate against the distal end of the tubular member.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the inner sleeve of the bone plate holder comprises an outer surface and a spring located on the outer surface of the inner sleeve.

13. The method of claim 6 , wherein, between the two advancing steps, the method further comprises:

inserting a rod through a hollow interior of the bone plate holder, the rod including a tip;

positioning the rod within the hollow interior such that the tip extends beyond the distal end opening of the outer sleeve; and

advancing the tip through an incision such that the tip guides the insertion of the bone plate holder through the incision.

14. The method according to claim 1 wherein said bone plate further comprises a periphery extending between the front surface and the opposing rear surface, and wherein said recesses are formed on the periphery of the bone plate or are formed radially outward from the centers of the respective holes of said bone plate.

15. A method for engaging and holding a bone plate during osteofixation, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) placing a bone plate near a bone, the bone plate comprising a front surface and an opposing rear surface, and an outer periphery extending between the front surface and the rear surface, at least one hole extending from the front surface to the rear surface, and at least a pair of opposing recesses on the rear surface and open to the outer periphery;

(b) advancing a bone plate holder adjacent the front surface of the bone plate, such that the bone plate holder abuts the front surface of the bone plate, the bone plate holder including at least two longitudinally extending fingers, the fingers including distal tips that are bent radially inward or are bent radially outward;

(c) grasping the recesses of the bone plate, with the at least two distal tips to hold the bone plate in place;

(d) securing the bone plate to the bone; and

(e) releasing the bone plate holder from the bone plate.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the distal tips of the fingers are bent radially inward.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the fingers are biased toward a closed position.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein the fingers are biased toward an open position.

19. The method of claim 15 , wherein the bone plate holder further comprises an outer tubular member having a distal end and a proximal end, a distal end opening and a proximal end opening, the outer tubular member defining an inner passageway extending from the proximal end to the distal end, the outer tubular member including at least two longitudinal slots located near the distal end providing slot openings to the inner passageway.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the bone plate holder further comprises an inner sleeve positioned within the outer tubular member, and the at least two distal, longitudinally extending fingers extend from the inner sleeve.

21. The method of claim 20 , wherein, between the two advancing steps, the method further comprises:

inserting a rod through a hollow interior of the bone plate holder, the rod including a tip;

positioning the rod within the hollow interior such that the tip extends beyond the distal end opening of the outer sleeve; and

advancing the tip through an incision such that the tip guides the insertion of the bone plate holder through the incision.

22. The method of claim 20 wherein the grasping step comprises sliding the inner sleeve within the outer tubular member.

23. The method of claim 22 further comprising sliding the inner sleeve distally to expand the distal fingers and thereafter sliding the inner sleeve proximally to contract the distal fingers to grasp the bone plate.

24. The method of claim 20 wherein the inner sleeve of the bone plate holder comprises a hollow interior defining an inner sleeve passageway and the bone plate holder further comprises a central rod extending through the inner sleeve passageway and extending beyond the distal end of the outer tubular member, the central rod comprising a blunt point.

25. The method of claim 24 further comprising removing the central rod before grasping the bone plate with the bone plate holder.

26. The method of claim 20 further comprising the step of maintaining a constant rearward pressure on the inner sleeve relative to the outer tubular member such that the finger tips securely hold the bone plate against the distal end of the tubular member.

27. The method of claim 26 wherein the inner sleeve of the bone plate holder comprises an outer surface and a spring located on the outer surface of the inner sleeve.

28. The method according to claim 15 comprising grasping the recesses of the bone plate through the at least one hole of the bone plate or around the outer periphery of the bone plate.

29. A method for providing an osteofixation system, comprising assembling into a kit:

(a) a bone plate holder comprising:

(i) an outer tubular member having a distal end and a proximal end, a distal end opening and a proximal end opening, the outer tubular member defining an inner passageway extending from the proximal end to the distal end, the outer tubular member comprising at least two longitudinal slots located near the distal end providing slot openings to the inner passageway;

(ii) an inner sleeve positioned within the outer tubular member, the inner sleeve comprising at least two distal, longitudinally extending fingers, the fingers comprising distal tips that are bent inwardly; and

(b) a bone plate comprising a front surface and a bone contacting surface that are respectively opposing faces of said bone plate, the front surface being configured to mate with the bone plate holder, the opposing bone contacting surface being configured to come into direct contact with underlying bone while said front surface is oriented in a direction facing away from the underlying bone, and an outer periphery extending between the front surface and the bone contacting surface, at least one hole extending from the front surface to the bone contacting surface, and at least a pair of opposing recesses on the bone contacting surface located near the outer periphery, the recesses designed to mate with the distal tips of the fingers.