Bone support assembly

The present invention relates to devices for the fixation and/or support of bones. In particular, the present invention relates to a bone support assembly, and a corresponding bone support plate, for the fixation and/or support of bones of the spinal column. The plate of the present invention has particular application in situations where compressional or "settling" forces, as well as torsional and flexing forces, of "fixed" vertebrae on a spinal plate cause significant stressing and potential failure of the spinal plate and/or plate components. Novel bone support assembly, and methods of use, wherein a locking member such as a resiliently flexible band, mounted to a bone support plate, automatically and as a consequence of driving a bone fastener through the bone support assembly and into bone structure of a recipient of such bone support assembly, activates a locking feature of the bone support assembly to thereby prevent the bone fastener from withdrawing out of the bone support assembly and past the locking member.