Dave's PCF WIP: Terms

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bone plate

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As used herein, a “bone plate” refers to a structure having a generally planar structure. Often, a bone plate is flat or mostly flat. Certain embodiments, of bone plates can include one or more bends connected to, or integrated with, the bone plate. In certain embodiments, a bone plate can include bends that correspond to contours of a body part of a patient. In certain embodiments, a bone plate can be configured to support a load (including a tension, compression, shear, torsion, and/or bending load). A bone plate can be a separate structure connected to, or integrated with, another structure. Alternatively, a bone plate can be connected to part of another structure. A bone plate can be two-dimensional or three-dimensional and can have a variety of geometric shapes and/or cross-sectional shapes, including, but not limited to a rectangle, a square, or other polygon, as well as a circle, an ellipse, an ovoid, or other circular or semi-circular shape. A bone plate may be made from a variety of materials including, but not limited to, metal, plastic, ceramic, wood, fiberglass, acrylic, carbon, biocompatible materials, biodegradable materials or the like. A bone plate may be formed of any biocompatible materials, including but not limited to biocompatible metals such as Titanium, Titanium alloys, stainless steel, carbon fiber, combinations of carbon fiber and a metallic alloy, stainless steel alloys, cobalt-chromium steel alloys, nickel-titanium alloys, shape memory alloys such as Nitinol, biocompatible ceramics, and biocompatible polymers such as Polyether ether ketone (PEEK) or a polylactide polymer (e.g. PLLA) and/or others, or any combination of these materials. One bone plate may be distinguished from another based on where the plate is positioned within a structure, component, or apparatus.