Patent ID: 8523920

Claim:
A spinal plating system, comprising: an elongate plate including a length extending along a longitudinal axis adapted to span a space between adjacent vertebrae, said elongate plate having a lower surface having a concave curvature along said longitudinal axis and an upper surface having a convex curvature substantially matching the curvature of said lower surface, said plate including a first connection portion attachable to a first one of the adjacent vertebrae and a second connection portion attachable to a second one of the adjacent vertebrae, and an intermediate portion extending between said first and second connection portions, said intermediate portion including a visualization opening extending therethrough for visualizing the space when said plate is attached to the adjacent vertebrae, wherein each of said connection portions includes a pair of openings for receiving a bone anchor therethrough to attach said connection portions to said respective adjacent vertebrae, and a retaining device comprising a washer configured such that an outer portion of said retaining device engages an upper surface of each of said bone anchors thereby preventing said bone anchors from loosening and backing out of said openings, wherein each of said connection portions includes an aperture positioned between said pair of openings including a countersunk portion surrounding said aperture and extending into said upper surface of said elongate plate, said countersunk portion being configured to engage said washer such that said washer is rotatably disposed in said countersunk portion.