Patent ID: 8016863

Claim:
An orthopedic implant apparatus with an anti-backout device for maintaining bone screws in the apparatus, the apparatus comprising: a plate including opposite sides defining a profile extending along a height of said plate between a top end and an opposite bottom end, the plate including a front face and a rear face defining a first depth adjacent the top end and increasing from an intermediate portion of the height to a second, greater depth adjacent the bottom end to define a caudally-directed bottom surface, said height sized between said top and bottom ends to extend from an upper vertebra to a lower vertebra; at least one upper hole through said plate adjacent to said top end to receive a screw for passage into the upper vertebra, wherein said at least one upper hole opens at the rear face of said plate, said rear face being configured to fit an anterior face of the lower vertebra and including a caudally-directed portion of the second, greater depth configured to engage bone and/or tissue adjacent the lower vertebra; and at least one lower hole through said plate adjacent to said bottom end to receive a screw for passage into the lower vertebra, wherein said plate includes a first width between said opposite sides across said at least one upper hole and said plate includes a second width between said opposite sides across said at least one lower hole, wherein said first width is less than said second width; wherein said anti-backout device includes a surface configured for engagement with and disposed adjacent to at least said at least one upper hole to prevent the screw in said at least one upper hole from backing out of the upper vertebra when engaged to the upper vertebra through said at least one upper hole.