Patent ID: 8043346

Claim:
An anterior cervical plate comprising: a plurality of retaining slots comprising: a first and second hole each permitting bone retaining members to pass partially therethrough; and a platform separating the first hole from the second hole; and a pair of one-piece locking slides adjacent to one another and resting on said platform and retain said bone retaining members in said plurality of retaining slots, wherein each said one-piece locking slide comprises: a body portion; a back wall coupled to said body portion; a deflectable spring flange attached to said back wall; a gap bordered by said body portion, said back wall, and said deflectable spring flange, wherein said gap is positioned between a substantial longitudinal portion of said body portion and said deflectable spring flange; and a lip positioned on an opposite side of said deflectable spring flange, wherein a first locking slide of said pair of one-piece locking slides is positioned in an opposite orientation relative to a second locking slide of said pair of one-piece locking slides, and wherein a first deflectable spring flange of said first locking slide mates with, and is adjacent to, a second deflectable spring flange of said second locking slide to spring off each other.