Patent ID: 8403970

Claim:
A cervical plate system comprising: a fixation plate having an aperture extending from a top surface to a bottom bone contacting surface thereof and dimensioned for admitting at least a portion of a shank of a bone fixation element therethrough and smaller than a head of the bone fixation element for retaining the head within the aperture, the shank extending downwardly from the bone fixation element; a locking plate positioned adjacent to the bottom bone contacting surface of the fixation plate and dimensioned for lateral slidable movement along a lateral axis of the fixation plate surface, from a first position wherein the locking plate disengages at least a portion of the bone fixation element to a second position wherein the locking plate engages at least a portion of the bone fixation element shank; a securing means slot extending along at least a portion of the lateral axis, the securing means slot extending from the top surface to the bottom bone contacting surface; and a securing element adapted for mating with the locking plate, the securing element extending through the securing means slot for securing the locking plate in the second position, wherein the locking plate is slidingly secured to the bottom bone contacting surface of the fixation plate; and an extension slot extending along at least a portion of the lateral axis, the extension slot extending from the top surface to the bottom surface, wherein the locking plate has a vertically extending extension dimensioned for riding in the extension slot, for sliding the locking plate between the first and second position.