Patent ID: 8366752

Claim:
A cervical plate system for creating a multiple level fusion between a first cervical vertebra, a second cervical vertebra, and a third cervical vertebra, the first cervical vertebra being in a cephalad relation to the second cervical vertebra, and the second cervical vertebra being in a cephalad relation to the third cervical vertebra, the system comprising: a cervical plate comprising: a curved plate body having a concave side that extends between a first end of a first thickness and a second end of a second thickness, the first end being adapted for attachment to the first vertebra in a cephalad relation to the plate body, the first end having an aperture adapted for accepting a screw of a first screw length, the screw of a first screw length having a first screw threaded portion and a first screw head that cooperates with the aperture of the first end such that the first screw extends from concave portion of the curved plate body when the first screw head is in contact with the aperture in the first end of the curved plate; the second end of the plate being adapted for attachment to the third vertebra in a caudad relation to the plate body, the second end of the plate further having an aperture adapted for accepting a screw of a second screw length having a second screw head and a second screw threaded portion, the aperture of the second end retaining the screw of a second screw length at an angle to the screw of a first screw length, so that the threaded portion the screw of a first screw length and the threaded portion the screw of a second screw length diverge from one another, with the first screw head and the second screw head being closer to one another than the first screw threaded portion and the second screw threaded portion; the first thickness being smaller than the second thickness, and the plate body transitioning from the first thickness to the second thickness in a graduated manner; and at least two grafts, one of the at least two grafts being adapted for positioning between the concave side of the curved plate and between the first cervical vertebra and the second cervical vertebra, and other one of the at least two grafts being adapted for positioning between the concave side of the curved plate and between the second cervical vertebra and the third cervical vertebra, so that that divergence of the screw of a first screw length from the screw of a second screw length plate causes compression of the at least two grafts between the first and second vertebra, and the second and third vertebra when the screw of a first screw length is fastened through the aperture on the first end of the cervical plate and the screw of a second screw length is fastened through the aperture on the second end of the cervical plate.