Minimal access occipital plate

1. A bone plate for securing a spinal fixation element to bone, the bone plate comprising:

a base portion having a top face;

a rod receiving portion extending from the base portion, the rod receiving portion including a channel for receiving a spinal fixation element; and

a bone anchor receiving portion comprising a plurality of raised projections, each raised projection projecting from the top face of the plate and forming a hole for receiving a bone anchor into the raised projection and through the base portion, each hole having a hole axis extending at an acute angle with respect to the top face, wherein the bone anchor receiving portion is characterized by an X-Y plane, a Y-Z plane and an X-Z plane, with at least one hole axis oriented at an acute angle with respect to the top face in a plane parallel to one of the X-Y plane, Y-Z plane and X-Z plane, and another hole axis oriented at an acute angle with respect to the top face in a plane parallel to another of the X-Y plane, Y-Z plane and X-Z plane.

2. The bone plate of claim 1 , wherein the axes of all of the holes converge at a single point above the top face of the plate.

3. The bone plate of claim 1 , wherein the holes comprise a superior hole, an inferior hole, a first lateral hole and a second lateral hole.

4. The bone plate of claim 3 wherein the axis of the superior hole extends at an acute angle Θ XZ relative to the top face, and the inferior hole extends at an acute angle θ XZ relative to the top face, wherein angle Θ XZ for the superior hole is greater than Θ XZ for the inferior hole.

5. The bone plate of claim 4 , wherein angle Θ XZ for the superior hole is between about 55 degrees and about 65 degrees, and angle Θ XZ for the inferior hole is between about 47 degrees and about 57 degrees.

6. The bone plate of claim 3 , wherein the axis of the first lateral hole extends at an acute angle Θ XZ relative to the top face and an angle Θ YZ relative to the top face, wherein angle Θ YZ for the first lateral hole is greater than angle Θ XZ for the first lateral hole.

7. The bone plate of claim 6 , wherein the axis of the second lateral hole extends at an acute angle Θ XZ relative to the top face and an angle Θ YZ relative to the top face, wherein angle Θ YZ for the second lateral hole is greater than angle Θ XZ for the second lateral hole.

8. The bone plate of claim 7 , wherein angles Θ XZ for the first and second lateral holes are between about 52 degrees and about 62 degrees, and angles Θ YZ for the first and second lateral holes are between about between about 73 degrees and about 83 degrees, the first and second lateral holes being symmetrically arranged on the top face of the plate.

9. A bone plate for securing a spinal fixation element to bone, the bone plate comprising:

a base portion having a top face;

a rod receiving portion for receiving a spinal fixation element; and

a bone anchor receiving portion comprising a plurality of raised projections, each raised projection projecting from the top face of the plate and forming a hole for receiving a bone anchor into the raised projection and through the base portion, each hole having a hole axis extending at an acute angle with respect to the top face, the axes of the holes converging toward one another as they extend away from the top face of the plate, wherein the bone anchor receiving portion is characterized by an X-Y plane, a Y-Z plane and an X-Z plane, with at least one hole axis oriented at an acute angle with respect to the top face in a plane parallel to one of the X-Y plane, Y-Z plane and X-Z plane, and another hole axis oriented at an acute angle with respect to the top face in a plane parallel to another of the X-Y plane, Y-Z plane and X-Z plane.

10. The bone plate of claim 9 , wherein the axes of all of the holes converge at a single point above the top face of the plate.

11. The bone plate of claim 10 , wherein the holes comprise a superior hole, an inferior hole, a first lateral hole and a second lateral hole.

12. The bone plate of claim 11 wherein the axis of the superior hole extends at an acute angle Θ XZ relative to the top face, and the inferior hole extends at an acute angle Θ XZ relative to the top face, wherein angle Θ XZ for the superior hole is greater than Θ XZ for the inferior hole.

13. The bone plate of claim 12 , wherein angle Θ XZ for the superior hole is between about 55 degrees and about 65 degrees, and angle Θ XZ for the inferior hole is between about 47 degrees and about 57 degrees.

14. The bone plate of claim 11 , wherein the axis of the first lateral hole extends at an acute angle Θ XZ relative to the top face and an angle Θ YZ relative to the top face, wherein angle Θ YZ for the first lateral hole is greater than angle Θ XZ for the first lateral hole.

15. The bone plate of claim 14 , wherein the axis of the second lateral hole extends at an acute angle Θ XZ relative to the top face and an angle Θ YZ relative to the top face, wherein angle Θ YZ for the second lateral hole is greater than angle Θ XZ for the second lateral hole.

16. The bone plate of claim 15 , wherein angles Θ XZ for the first and second lateral holes are between about 52 degrees and about 62 degrees, and angles Θ YZ for the first and second lateral holes are between about between about 73 degrees and about 83 degrees.