Patent ID: 8636738

Claim:
A spinal plate comprising: a first section having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, the first section defining a longitudinal axis that extends through the proximal and distal end portions, the first section including a longitudinally extending top surface, a longitudinally extending opposed bottom surface, and a first end face extending from the top surface to the bottom surface, the first section having a pair of fingers and a tongue extending from one end of the first section, each of the fingers including a groove along an interior surface thereof; a space defined between each finger and the tongue; a second section including a longitudinally extending top surface, a longitudinally extending opposed bottom surface, and a second end face extending from the top surface to the bottom surface, the second section having a pair of bars extending from one end of the second section, the pair of bars configured for being slidably received in the spaces between the tongue and the pair of fingers of the first section, such that when the first and second sections are slidably engaged with each other, the first and second sections are movable relative to each other; a first support bar cavity defined in the first end face of the first section; a second support bar cavity defined in the second end face of the second section so that the first and second support bar cavities face each other in opposed relation when the first and second sections are engaged; and at least one support bar supported in the first and second support bar cavities between the first and second sections to provide lateral support to the first and second sections and minimize excessive flexure between the first and second sections.