Patent ID: 7981142

Claim:
A bone plate and screw system, comprising: a bone plate having a proximal surface, a distal surface, and at least one oblong screw aperture disposed therein: at least one bone screw having a proximal head with a shank extending distally therefrom, the at least one bone screw being positionable in the at least one bone screw aperture to secure the plate to bone, the proximal head having a circumferential recess formed in a side wall of the head at a position below a top surface of the head; and at least one resilient locking mechanism having a split ring shape and extending around a head of the at least one bone screw within the circumferential recess, the at least one resilient locking mechanism being adjustable along the oblong bone screw aperture; wherein the proximal head of the at least one bone screw is configured to be inserted through the at least one bone screw aperture in a distal-to-proximal direction.