Patent ID: 7175624

Claim:
A method of attaching a bone plate to a bone screw using an anchors first construction, comprising the steps of: providing a bone plate and screw system, comprising: a bone plate having a first surface, a second, bone-contacting surface opposed to the first surface, and an aperture extending through the first and second surfaces, the aperture having a predefined shape and size, and being configured to receive a bone screw, and further including a seating groove therein; a screw configured to be inserted into bone, the screw having a head region at a proximal end, the head region being defined by a top flange, a bottom flange, and a groove extending therebetween, and an elongated body extending from the head region to a distal end of the screw, the elongated body including a threaded portion, the screw further having a tool-engaging bore extending from an upper surface of the head region; and a resilient locking member for securing the bone plate to the screw, the resilient locking member being configured to be captured within the seating groove of the aperture, and further being sized and shaped to mate with the groove of the screw; inserting the screw into a bone segment to be fixed; disposing a bone plate having a captured resilient locking member therein over a post attached to the screw; sliding the captured resilient locking member and bone plate down the post and onto the screw; securing the resilient locking member around the groove of the screw; and removing the post from the screw.