Patent ID: 7527641

Claim:
A fixation assembly for use with at least one bone fastener having a head, comprising: a fixation device having a first side flange, a second side flange, a first pair of openings, and a second pair of openings, each pair of openings located between the first side flange and the second side flange, each opening configured to receive at least a portion of a bone fastener, wherein each opening is configured to receive at least a portion of the head when the fixation device is implanted; a bone fastener retainer device having a top and bottom surface that is substantially continuous and without any apertures along the top surface that permit access to the openings in the fixation device receivable over the fixation device when the bone fastener retainer device and fixation device are brought in contact with one another in a closed position, wherein at least a portion of the bone fastener retainer device extends over at least a portion of the at least one opening when the fixation device is in the closed position; a pivot hinge comprising a hinge mechanism and a pin, the pivot hinge configured to permit the bone fastener retainer device to move between an open position wherein the bone fastener retainer device does not extend over at least a portion of the at least one opening and the closed position; and wherein the fixation device further comprises a closure block located between the first pair of openings and the second pair of openings and extending between and oriented substantially perpendicular to the first side flange and second side flange where the block further comprises a first integral locking structure, and the bone fastener retainer device further has a second integral locking structure on its bottom surface, the locking structures configured to engage each other in a locked condition when the bone fastener retainer device and fixation device are brought in contact with one another into the closed position.