Resiliant spinal plate system

An orthopedic fusion system comprising:

• a plate that includes a first aperture;
• a single-piece monolithic resilient member;
• and
• a screw including a lip;
• wherein:
• the plate includes a first cavity, the first cavity directly interfacing the first aperture;
• at least a portion of the resilient member is included in the first cavity;
• the resilient member includes an arcuate portion, a first resilient member projection, and a second resilient member projection;
• the arcuate portion couples the first resilient member projection to the second resilient member projection;
• the first resilient member projection projects into the first aperture and towards a center of the first aperture;
• the second resilient member projection projects into the first aperture and towards the center of the first aperture;
• the screw includes a shoulder, the shoulder being coupled to the lip;
• the screw includes a first screw projection and a second screw projection;
• the lip is between the first screw projection and the shoulder;
• the lip is between the second screw projection and the shoulder;
• the system is configured such that in a partially implanted position the screw is included in the first aperture and the shoulder actively deflects the first resilient member projection away from the center of the first aperture;
• the system is configured such that in the partially implanted position the screw is included in the first aperture and the shoulder actively deflects the second resilient member projection away from the center of the first aperture;
• the system is configured such that in a fully implanted position the screw is included in the first aperture such that the screw is prevented from backing out of the first aperture by the first resilient member projection that has snapped back towards the center of the first aperture to intercept the lip;
• the system is configured such that in the fully implanted position the screw is included in the first aperture such that the screw is prevented from backing out of the first aperture by the second resilient member projection that has snapped back towards the center of the first aperture to intercept the lip;
• and
• the system is configured such that in the fully implanted position the screw is allowed to rotate but is prevented from counter-rotating because the first screw projection is lodged against the first resilient member projection.

An orthopedic fusion system comprising:

• a plate that includes a first aperture;
• a single-piece monolithic resilient member;
• and
• a screw including a lip;
• wherein:
• at least a portion of the resilient member is included in the first aperture;
• the resilient member includes an arcuate portion, a first resilient member projection, and a second resilient member projection;
• the arcuate portion couples the first resilient member projection to the second resilient member projection;
• the first resilient member projection projects into the first aperture and towards a center of the first aperture;
• the second resilient member projection projects into the first aperture and towards the center of the first aperture;
• the screw includes a shoulder, the shoulder being coupled to the lip;
• the screw includes a first screw projection and a second screw projection;
• the lip is between the first screw projection and a portion of the shoulder;
• the lip is between the second screw projection and another portion of the shoulder;
• the system is configured such that in a first orientation the screw is at least partially included in the first aperture and the shoulder actively deflects the first resilient member projection away from the center of the first aperture;
• the system is configured such that in the first orientation the screw is at least partially included in the first aperture and the shoulder actively deflects the second resilient member projection away from the center of the first aperture;
• the system is configured such that in a second orientation the screw is at least partially included in the first aperture such that the screw is prevented from backing out of the first aperture by the first resilient member projection, the first resilient member projection having returned towards the center of the first aperture to intercept the lip in response to the shoulder no longer deflecting the first resilient member projection away from the center of the first aperture;
• the system is configured such that in the second orientation the screw is at least partially included in the first aperture such that the screw is prevented from backing out of the first aperture by the second resilient member projection, the second resilient member projection having returned towards the center of the first aperture to intercept the lip in response to the shoulder no longer deflecting the second resilient member projection away from the center of the first aperture;
• and
• the system is configured such that in the second orientation the screw is prevented from rotating in a first direction because the first screw projection is lodged against the first resilient member projection.