Anterior cervical plate and fixation system

An apparatus for fixing a body insertable member to bony material, including:

• a biocompatible structural member having an exterior surface that includes a first surface region adapted for surface engagement with a bony material when the structural member is secured to the bony material, and a second surface region opposite the first surface region;
• a first fastener comprising an elongate shank extending in a longitudinal direction and having a transverse shank diameter, and further including a head having a transverse head dimension larger than the shank diameter;
• an interior wall defining a first aperture formed through the structural member, including a first constriction proximate the first surface region selectively sized with respect to the first fastener to allow passage of the shank through the aperture and first constriction while preventing such passage of the head to maintain the head within the aperture, said first constriction further being of sufficient size to allow a pivoting of the first fastener with respect to the structural member about at least one transverse axis, thereby to allow the selection of a penetration angle at which the shank is inserted into the bony material to secure the structural member;
• and
• a head retaining feature integral with the structural member, disposed near the first aperture and proximate the second surface region, and adapted to cooperate with the first constriction to maintain the head in the first aperture;
• wherein at least one of said head and said head retaining feature is elastically deformable to allow travel of the head past the head retaining feature into the first aperture.

A bone plate and fixation system, including:

• a biocompatible bone plate having an exterior surface including a bone contact surface region adapted for surface engagement with vertebrae;
• first and second spaced apart apertures formed through the bone plate, each of the apertures including a constriction proximate the bone contact surface region;
• first and second fasteners, each fastener including an elongate shank extending in a longitudinal direction and having a transverse shank diameter, and further including a head having a transverse head dimension greater than the shank diameter;
• wherein the constriction in each of the first and second apertures is selectively sized with respect to its associated fastener to allow a passage of the shank of the associated fastener through the aperture while engaging the head to prevent such passage of the head;
• and
• first and second retaining elements permanently fixed to the structural member and associated with the first and second apertures, respectively, each retaining element being movable from an open position for allowing travel of the head of its associated fastener into its associated aperture and against the constriction thereof, to a closed position for maintaining the associated head substantially against the associated constriction.