Bone plate template systems having one or more removable segments and methods for using the same

Abstract

Bone plate template systems and methods determine a suitable bone plate implant from a plurality of bone plate implants. The systems and methods have a first bone plate implant having a first length, and a second bone plate implant having a second length that is less than the first length of the first bone plate implant. The systems and methods have a bone plate template having a shape and a length defined between a first end and a second end located opposite to the first end, wherein at least a portion of the shape of the bone plate template corresponds to at least portions of a shape of at least one of the first and second bone plate implants. The bone plate template has at least one removable segment located adjacent to the second end of the bone plate template, wherein a connecting section of the bone plate template has a width and connects the at least one removable segment to the first end of the bone plate template. The bone plate template displays first indicia indicative of the first bone plate and the at least one removable segment displays second indicia indicative of the second bone plate.

1 - 8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . A method for determining a suitable bone plate implant from a plurality of bone plate implants, wherein each bone plate implant of the plurality of bone plate implants has a different length, the method comprising:
 positioning a bone plate template adjacent to an operating site of a patient, wherein the bone plate template, has a shape and an original length defined between a first end and a second end located opposite to the first end, and comprises at least one removable segment located along the length of the bone plate template, wherein at least a portion of the shape of the bone plate template corresponds to at least a portion of at least one bone plate implant of the plurality of bone plate implants;   separating the at least one removable segment from the bone plate template so that the bone plate template has a remaining length that is less than the original length of the bone plate template, wherein the remaining length of the bone plate template is similar to a length associated with the operating site of the patient; and   identifying the suitable bone plate implant from the plurality of bone plate implants based on the remaining length of the bone plate template or the at least one removable segment separated from the bone plate template, wherein the suitable bone plate implant has a suitable length that is similar to the length associated with the operating site of the patient.   
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein, prior to positioning the bone plate template adjacent to the operating site of the patient, the bone plate template is stored in individual sterile-packaging, and further wherein each bone plate implant of the plurality of bone plate implants is stored in an individual sterile-packaging. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein the individual sterile-packaging storing the bone plate template and each of the bone plate implants is provided in a kit container. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein a separated removable segment located opposite to the second end of the bone plate template displays indicia indicative of the suitable bone plate implant having the suitable length. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 12 , further comprising:
 selecting the suitable bone plate implant from the plurality of bone plate implants based on the indicia displayed on the separated removable segment that is located opposite to the second end of the bone plate template.   
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 12 , further comprising:
 selecting the suitable bone plate implant from the plurality of bone plate implants by matching indicia associated with the suitable bone plate to the indicia displayed on the separated removable segment located opposite to the second end of the bone plate template.   
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein the bone plate template is made of frangible material such that the at least one removable segment separates from the bone plate template without use of a tool. 
     
     
         16 - 26 . (canceled)