Patent ID: 8709053

Claim:
A fastening assembly for fastening an orthopedic implant to bone tissue, comprising: an orthopedic implant having a blocking mechanism and at least a first channel and a second channel, the first channel defining a first longitudinal axis and the second channel defining a second longitudinal axis, wherein the orthopedic implant has an upper surface and a lower surface; a first fastener, the first fastener capable of being received in the first channel along the first longitudinal axis in a first direction from a first position to a second position and the first fastener being configured to be inserted into bone tissue; and a second fastener, the second fastener capable of being received in the second channel along the second longitudinal axis in a second direction from a first position to a second position, and the second fastener being configured to be inserted into bone tissue; wherein a head portion of the second fastener contacts a head portion of the first fastener to prevent the first fastener from moving in a direction opposite the first direction when the first fastener and the second fastener are in the second position, wherein the first fastener and the second fastener are at different heights with respect to the upper surface and lower surface of the orthopedic implant in the second position, wherein the blocking mechanism when moved from a first position to a second position prevents the second fastener from moving in a direction opposite the first direction when the first fastener and the second fastener are in the second position, and wherein the blocking mechanism, the first fastener and the second fastener are separate elements.