Patent ID: 8002808

Claim:
An apparatus comprising: a plate having a first end, a second end, a lower side and a perimeter, a slot proximate to said first end, and an aperture proximate to said second end; an attachment member having at least one hole therethrough, said attachment member adapted to contact a vertebra and to connect to said plate proximate to one of said slot and said aperture; a screw having a shaft and a head portion at one end of said shaft for anchoring said attachment member to a bone, said screw being in said at least one hole through said attachment member, wherein at least a portion of said perimeter of said plate covers at least a portion of said head of said screw when said attaching member and said plate are connected, such that said head is between a portion of said attaching member and said lower side of said plate; wherein said attachment member includes a lower surface and at least one prong extending from said lower surface.