US Patent 8366752 Cervical plate having graduated thickness

A cervical plate is disclosed. The plate includes plate body with a first end adapted for attachment to a first vertebra in a cephalad relation to the plate body and a second end adapted for attachment to second vertebra in a caudad relation to the plate body. The plate body being of a first thickness at the first end and of a second thickness at the second end, 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.