Patent ID: 8025677

Claim:
A spinal plating system comprising: a plate having corners and end holes located at the corners, wherein each of the end holes extends from an upper surface to a lower surface of the plate, and wherein each of the end holes comprises an inner surface having a curved contour; at least two bone fasteners; and at least two rings, wherein each of the at least two rings is sized to fit in one of the end holes and to receive therethrough one of the at least two bone fasteners, wherein each of the at least two rings comprises: a plurality of deflectable portions; a gap to allow for expansion and contraction of the ring; and an outer surface that substantially corresponds to the curved contour of the inner surface of the end hole to allow for polyaxial rotation of the ring within the end hole, wherein the at least two bone fasteners are placed in a converging or diverging configuration through the polyaxial rotation of the at least two rings.