Patent ID: 8182518

Claim:
A bone screw retention device comprising: a body having a plate, a center projection, and two outward prongs, the center projection and the two outward prongs being integral to the plate and extending from the plate in substantial parallel directions; the center projection having at least one cervical plate engaging portion configured to seat into a center bore between a pair of bone screw bores in a cervical plate in a linear insertion and snap-fit or press-fit engagement; and the two outward prongs extending from the plate and adapted to engage respective bone screw drive sockets of a pair of bone screws seated in a cervical plate and create an interference with the bone screw drive sockets to retain and provide rotational prevention of the bone screws; wherein the plate includes an upper surface and a lower surface, the plate being without a through-hole extending between the upper surface and the lower surface and without a recess in the upper surface.