Interconnected Locking Plates for Adjacent Spinal Vertebral Bodies

A device for insertion into a gap between two bony elements, comprising:

• a distal retention plate with an affixed elongate shaft;
• a proximal retention plate with an affixed elongate shaft;
• said distal retention plate shaft being non-round in transverse cross-section and said proximal retention plate shaft being non-round in transverse cross-section and said shafts being disposed in sliding, mating relation to one another;
• said elongate shafts having a length sufficient to enable said plates to extend beyond said adjacent bony elements;
• said device having an unrotated position of repose and an infinite plurality of rotated positions relative to said position of repose;
• said unrotated position of repose aligning said device with said gap prior to insertion and during insertion of said device into said gap;
• said device being in a rotated position after said distal retention plate has exited said gap on a distal side of said gap, but prior to said proximal retention plate entering said gap;
• said device when in said rotated position preventing distal-to-proximal or proximal-to-distal displacement of said retention plates into said gap;
• said distal retention plate when in said rotated position cooperating with said proximal retention plate to hold said adjacent bony elements in a stable relationship to one another;
• whereby rotation of said proximal retention plate effects conjoint rotation of said distal retention plate;
• and
• whereby a combined length of said elongate shafts is reduced to enable said proximal and distal retention plates to positively engage said adjacent bony elements.