Patent ID: 8403969

Claim:
A novel bone plate system, comprising: a plate having an upper surface and a lower surface, said plate defining at least two bone screw holes, said bone screw holes having a generally circular lower portion and an upper portion having at least one inwardly directed flange, said upper portion having a non-continuous circular configuration interrupted by said at least one inwardly directed flange, a least two quick lock screws corresponding to said at least two bone screw holes, said quick lock screws comprising an upper screw head and a lower threaded portion, said upper screw head having a first thread, which comprises at least one locking thread disposed along at least a portion of the side of the screw head, said lower threaded portion having a second thread, said second thread on said lower threaded portion being distinct from and non-continuous with said first thread of said upper screw head, said locking thread disposed on the side of the said screw head having a first end and a second end, a portion of said locking thread being perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the screw head, the locking thread rapidly transitioning at the first and second ends to form an angled flange engagement/release terminus located on said upper screw head, wherein each of said quick lock screws is configured such that said engagement/release terminus of said locking thread bone screw insertion is capable of engaging and then passing beneath said at least one inwardly directed flange of said screw hole into a locked position and during bone screw removal is capable of disengaging from said at least one inwardly directed flange of said screw hole.