Patent ID: 7001387

Claim:
A bone fixation system comprising: an elongated plate having a top surface and a bottom surface and at least two nodes along a length thereof, each of said nodes including first and second holes extending between said top and bottom surfaces, each of said first and second holes including a recessed portion adjacent said top surface having a first diameter and each of said first and second holes defining an opening at said bottom surface having a second diameter less than said first diameter; a first bone engaging fastener having a first elongated shank defining bone engaging threads thereon and a first enlarged head at one end thereof, said first shank being configured so that said first bone engaging fastener can be inserted through either of said first and second holes from said top surface of said plate with said first enlarged head at least partially positioned in said recessed portion of said hole, wherein said first bone engaging fastener is further configured so that said first head can be positioned within said recessed portion so that said first elongated shank can assume a plurality of angles relative to said bottom surface of said plate; a second bone engaging fastener having a second elongated shank defining bone engaging threads thereon and a second enlarged head at one end thereof, said second shank being configured so that said second bone engaging fastener can be inserted through either of said first and second holes from said top surface of said plate with said second enlarged head at least partially positioned in said recessed portion, wherein said second bone engaging fastener is further configured so that said second head of said second bone engaging fastener cannot be pivoted within said recessed portion and said second shank assumes a fixed orientation relative said bottom surface of said plate; and a locking screw assembly for locking said head of said bone engaging fasteners positioned in said recessed portions of said first and second holes of at least one of said nodes, wherein said locking screw assembly includes a washer movable from a first position allowing insertion of said first and second bone engaging fasteners in said first and second holes to a second position overlapping said first and second holes.