Patent ID: 8500783

Claim:
A dynamic cervical plate comprising: a flat elongated shaft having grooved opposite side edges along a longitudinal length sufficient to span an intervertebral space between a first end and a second end, said shaft further defined by a proximal and a distal surface, said distal surface including a row of teeth formed across the longitudinal axis; a lateral bar fixed to said flat elongated shaft, said fixed lateral bar having a pair of apertures positioned adjacent to said opposite side edges of said flat elongated shaft adapted to receive bone screws, said fixed lateral bar including a first retainer clip having flexible clip ears that overlie an outer portion of each aperture for maintaining an inserted bone screw by flexing of said first retainer clip ears upon insertion of the bone screw; at least one movable lateral bar slidably attached to said flat elongated shaft, said movable lateral bar having a pair of apertures positioned adjacent to said opposite side edges of said flat elongated shaft adapted to receive bone screws, each said movable lateral bar including a second retainer clip having flexible clip ears that overlie a outer portion of each aperture for maintaining an inserted bone screw by flexing said clip ears upon insertion of the bone screw, said clip ears overlying the head of the bone screws to prevent back-out, and a flange formed in said second retainer clip for engaging said shaft teeth, said flange constructed and arranged to permit unidirectional movement of said movable lateral bar towards said fixed lateral bar; a spacer member removably fastened to a connector member, said connector member operatively connecting said spacer member to said flat elongated shaft, said connector member including a pair of upstanding flanges, said upstanding flanges operatively engage said grooves on said flat elongated shaft, said spacer member configured to be inserted into an intervertebral space located along said flat elongated shaft between said fixed lateral bar and said movable lateral bar.