Bone screw retaining and removal system

A bone screw retention system for retaining bone screws therein, and releasing bone screws therefrom, a plate that defines a plurality of transversely extending bores configured for receiving bone screws and a retention member cavity corresponding to each bore, the retaining system comprising:

• an elastically deformable retention member having an edge portion, wherein at least a portion of the retention member is positioned therein each at least one cavity such that portions of the at least one retention member extend into an upper region of each of the bores, wherein the retention member is configured to mount therein the at least one cavity and is movable between a first relaxed position and a second compressed position, wherein, in the first relaxed position, a portion of the edge portion of the retention member extends inwardly substantially transverse to and toward the longitudinal axis of the respective bore and into the upper region of the bore, which decreases an effective inner diameter of the upper region of the bore, and wherein, in the second compressed position, portions of the retention member are medially biased outwardly away from the longitudinal axis of the bore towards an outer wall of the upper region of the bore, which increases the effective inner diameter of the upper region of the bore, and wherein in the first relaxed position, the retention member is a continuous closed loop.