Patent ID: 8128628

Claim:
A spinal plate system for a human spine, comprising: a first plate configured to be coupled to a first vertebra, said first plate comprising (1) an extension parallel to a longitudinal axis of the spinal plate system, said extension comprising a first stepped portion, and (2) serrations on an exterior surface of the first plate; a second plate configured to be coupled to a second vertebra, said second plate comprising (1) a cavity parallel to the longitudinal axis of the spinal plate system, said cavity comprising a second stepped portion, and (2) a flexible arm extending from a terminal end of the second plate comprising a protrusion on an exterior surface of the flexible arm, wherein the first plate or second plate comprises an indention on an edge thereof, said indention configured to be engaged to an insertion tool for system insertion, wherein the first stepped portion of the extension is configured to engage the second stepped portion of the cavity to slidably engage the first plate with the second plate along the longitudinal axis, and wherein the protrusion on the exterior surface of the flexible arm of the second plate engages the serrations on the exterior surface of the first plate to provide unidirectional movement of the first plate toward the second plate along the longitudinal axis.