Patent ID: 6884242

Claim:
A plating apparatus for the spine, comprising: a plate having a first hole alignable with an upper vertebra and a pair of second holes alignable with a lower vertebra and for receiving fasteners for engaging said plate to the lower vertebra, said plate having a first surface facing away from the upper and lower vertebrae when engaged thereto, said plate further including a support member on said first surface extending between said pair of second holes; a retaining element engageable to said plate with a second surface of said retaining element adjacent said first surface, said retaining element including an abutment portion on said second surface, wherein when engaged to said plate: said retaining element extends outwardly from said first surface and said support member of said plate in a direction opposite said first and second vertebrae; and said abutment portion is engageable with said support member to resist movement of said retaining element relative to said plate.