Patent ID: 8216285

Claim:
A method of constructing a medical device, said method comprising: providing an anterior cervical plate, wherein said anterior cervical plate comprises: a plurality of holes; and a plurality of slots extending partially through the plate; placing a plurality of a one-piece locking mechanisms aligned adjacent to one another in said plurality of slots, wherein each locking mechanism comprises: a body portion; a back wall coupled to said body portion; a deflectable flange extending from a first side of said body portion; a lip extending from a second side of said body portion, wherein a portion of said lip extends over an opening of said plurality of holes; and a gap positioned in between said body portion and said deflectable flange, wherein said gap is positioned between a substantial longitudinal portion of said body portion and said deflectable flange; inserting bone screws in said plurality of holes such that a bone screw is locked into said plate by said lip, wherein as said bone screw is inserted in a hole, said deflectable flange bends to allow said bone screw to push said lip away from said opening to permit said bone screw to fit into said hole, wherein a first locking mechanism of said plurality of locking mechanisms is positioned in an opposite orientation relative to a second locking mechanism of said plurality of locking mechanisms, wherein said deflectable flange of said first locking mechanism is aligned adjacent to said deflectable flange of said second locking mechanism.