Patent ID: 8852247

Claim:
A system for providing stability to a vertebral column, said system comprising: a substantially rectangular plate comprising: a top surface; a bottom surface oppositely positioned from said top surface; a plurality of projections extending from each corner and central side areas of said plate; a plurality of openings extending from said top surface to said bottom surface through said plate; and a plurality of holes separate from said plurality of openings and configured in said plurality of projections and extending from said top surface to said bottom surface through said plate, wherein each hole of said plurality of holes are dimensioned and configured to accommodate a bone screw, wherein each said hole comprises: an eccentrically-shaped anti back-out ring configured to rotate from an unlocked position to a locked position and comprising a thin end and a thick end, wherein said thick end comprises exactly one aperture; and an angled eccentrically-shaped sidewall contacting the anti back-out ring, wherein said anti back-out ring is a continuous structure and is rotatably seated adjacent to the sidewall in said hole, and wherein said thick end of said anti back-out ring covers a portion of a head of said bone screw upon said anti back-out ring being configured in said locked position.