Patent ID: 8048075

Claim:
An orthopedic implant for engaging at least one non-vertebral bone of the human body, said implant comprising: a body having a first end, a second end, a length therebetween, and a width perpendicular to the length, said body including a bone-contacting surface along the length of said body, said bone-contacting surface configured to be placed against the at least one non-vertebral bone; at least two bone screw receiving holes extending through said body from a screw receiving side to a screw exit side proximate said bone-contacting surface, each of said bone screw receiving holes having a central longitudinal axis extending therethrough from said screw receiving side to said screw exit side, and being adapted to receive a bone screw for engaging said implant to the at least one non-vertebral bone; and a locking element for locking at least two bone screws inserted in said at least two bone screw receiving holes, respectively, said locking element being moveably attached to said implant prior to the insertion of the bone screws into said bone screw receiving holes, said locking element being on said screw receiving side of said body, said locking element being rotatable in a plane substantially perpendicular to said central longitudinal axes of said bone screw receiving holes from an initial position that permits the insertion of at least one bone screw into one of said bone screw receiving holes to a final position that retains at least two bone screws to said implant, said locking element in said final position preventing withdrawal of the at least one bone screw from said one of said bone screw receiving holes.