Patent ID: 8262705

Claim:
A method of performing surgery, comprising: inserting a bone plate having a first end and a second end and at least two generally parallel elongated screw slots therethrough; inserting a bone screw capable of securing the bone plate to a bone through each of said generally parallel elongated screw slots, said bone screw having a screw head and a threaded portion extending therefrom; and attaching an interference device to said bone plate, said interference device dimensioned to retain said bone plate, said interference device having an upper surface defining a first surface area and a lower surface defining a second surface area, wherein said first surface area is greater than said second surface area, wherein said lower surface includes at least one recess therein, and wherein said interference device is dimensioned to retain said bone screws while permitting the bone screws to toggle and controllably slide in said screw slots of said bone plate by a continuous engagement interface between the interference device and the bone screws, and wherein said interference device provides incrementally increasing resistance to sliding of the bone screws as the bone screws move away from said first end and said second end of the bone plate.