Patent ID: 7662154

Claim:
An implant assembly adapted to be fixed to a spine using at least four bone screws, each bone screw having a shank and a head, wherein the implant assembly comprises: a plate member, wherein the plate member has at least four apertures extending therethrough, wherein each aperture includes a first region sized to permit the shank of a respective bone screw but not the head of the respective bone screw to pass, and wherein each aperture includes a second region sized to permit both the shank of the respective bone screw and the head of the respective bone screw to pass; and at least two toggle plates, wherein each toggle plate is slidably attached and pivotally mounted to the plate member by a locking screw having an axis and wherein each toggle plate is operatively associated with two of the bone screws; wherein each toggle plate is slideable to a first position in which each bone screw associated therewith may be inserted in the aperture such that the shank of the bone screw passes into the first region and the head of the bone screw remains in the second region; wherein each toggle plate is slideable to a second position in which the head of each bone screw associated therewith is at least partially covered by the toggle plate; wherein each toggle plate is pivotally mounted to the plate member such that at least at the second slidable position each toggle plate can pivot relative to the axis of the locking screw in the plate member; and wherein the locking screw causes pivotal movement upon tightening.