Patent ID: 8282675

Claim:
A spinal anchor, comprising: a bone engaging fastener having a threaded shank with a head formed thereon and configured to sit in a thru-bore in a spinal plate; an anti-backout mechanism disposed within the head of the bone engaging fastener and movable between a retracted position in which the anti-backout mechanism is retracted into the bone engaging fastener, and a deployed position in which the anti-backout mechanism extends from the bone engaging fastener, the anti-backout mechanism being biased to the retracted position; and a locking mechanism matable to the bone engaging fastener and configured to move the anti-backout mechanism from the retracted position to the deployed position; wherein the locking mechanism includes an elongate member extending distally therefrom such that the elongate member extends through the anti-backout mechanism to maintain alignment between the locking mechanism and the bone engaging fastener; and wherein the anti-backout mechanism comprises a leaf spring.