Variable angle bone plate with semi-constrained articulating screw

1. A cervical plate, comprising:

an elongate plate which bridges, during use, substantially adjacent vertebrae by anchoring the plate to the vertebrae, the elongate plate having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, wherein the first surface is positioned, during use, adjacent to at least a portion of a surface of the vertebrae;

a plurality of openings extending through the elongate plate;

a plurality of bone fasteners comprising a head and a shaft, wherein the shaft is positionable, during use, in the opening such that the shaft engages, during use, at least one of the vertebrae and the head is inhibited from being conveyed through the opening such that the bone fasteners couple the elongate plate to the vertebrae; and

a securing mechanism directly connected to the elongate plate which when activated inhibits removal of at least two of the bone fasteners from the openings and inhibits movement of at least the shafts of the bone fasteners in a lateral direction, while allowing movement of at least the shafts of the bone fasteners substantially parallel to a sagittal plane, wherein when the securing mechanism is activated the heads of the bone fasteners are inhibited from translational movement relative to the elongate plate substantially parallel to a sagittal plane.

2. The cervical plate of claim 1 , wherein the securing mechanism, when activated, inhibits backing out of at least one of the bone fasteners from at least one of the plurality of openings.

3. The cervical plate of claim 1 , wherein the securing mechanism, when activated, inhibits removal of at least two of the bone fasteners from at least one of the plurality of openings, and wherein the at least two bone fasteners are positioned substantially laterally relative to one another.

4. The cervical plate of claim 1 , wherein the securing mechanism, when activated, inhibits removal of at least two of the bone fasteners from at least one of the plurality of openings, and wherein the at least two bone fasteners are positioned substantially vertically relative to one another.

5. The cervical plate of claim 1 , wherein the securing mechanism, when activated, inhibits removal of at least four of the bone fasteners from at least one of the plurality of openings.

6. The cervical plate of claim 1 , wherein the securing mechanism engages, when activated, a first side of the head of the bone fastener.

7. The cervical plate of claim 1 , wherein the securing mechanism engages, when activated, a first side of the head of the bone fastener such that a second side, opposite of the first side, of the bone fastener engages an adjacent portion of the cervical plate forming the opening in which the bone fastener is positioned forming a friction fitting.

8. The cervical plate of claim 1 , wherein the securing mechanism comprises a cam.

9. The cervical plate of claim 1 , wherein the securing mechanism engages, when activated, a positionable member which moves from a first unengaged position to a second position engaging a first side of the head of the bone fastener forming a friction fitting.

10. The cervical plate of claim 1 , wherein the securing mechanism engages, when activated, a deformable portion of the cervical plate deforming the deformable portion which moves from a first unengaged position to a second position engaging a first side of the head of the bone fastener forming a friction fitting.

11. The cervical plate of claim 10 , wherein the deformable portion comprises a ring which expands upon activation of the securing mechanism.

12. The cervical plate of claim 10 , wherein the securing mechanism comprises a screw which is conveyed, when the securing mechanism is activated, into an opening adjacent the deformable portion such that the conveyance of the screw into the opening deforms the deformable portion.

13. The cervical plate of claim 1 , wherein the securing mechanism comprises a screw which is conveyed, when the securing mechanism is activated, into an opening such that a head of the screw engages a first side of the head of the bone fastener such that a second side, opposite of the first side, of the bone fastener engages an adjacent portion of the cervical plate forming the opening in which the bone fastener is positioned forming a friction fitting.

14. The cervical plate of claim 1 , wherein the securing mechanism engages, when activated, a deformable portion of the cervical plate deforming the deformable portion which moves an engaging portion coupled to the deformable portion from a first unengaged position to a second position engaging a first side of the head of the bone fastener forming a friction fitting.

15. The cervical plate of claim 1 , wherein the securing mechanism comprises an elongated member positionable in an opening extending laterally through the elongated plate and at least one of the bone fasteners.

16. The cervical plate of claim 1 , wherein the securing mechanism comprises an elongated member positionable in an opening extending laterally through the elongated plate and at least two of the bone fasteners.

17. A bone plate, comprising:

an elongate plate which bridges, during use, substantially adjacent bone portions by anchoring the plate to the bone portions, the elongate plate having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, wherein the first surface is positioned, during use, adjacent to at least a portion of a surface of the bone portions;

a plurality of openings extending through the elongate plate;

a plurality of bone fasteners comprising a head and a shaft, wherein the shaft is positionable, during use, in the opening such that the shaft engages, during use, at least one of the bone portions and the head is inhibited from being conveyed through the opening such that the bone fasteners couple the elongate plate to the bone portions; and

a securing mechanism directly connected to the elongate plate which when activated inhibits removal of at least two of the bone fasteners from the openings and inhibits movement of at least the shafts of the bone fasteners in a first direction, while allowing movement of at least the shafts of the bone fasteners in a second direction substantially orthogonal to the first direction, wherein when the securing mechanism is activated the heads of the bone fasteners are inhibited from translational movement relative to the elongate plate.

18. The bone plate of claim 17 , wherein the securing mechanism, when activated, inhibits backing out of at least one of the bone fasteners from at least one of the plurality of openings.

19. The bone plate of claim 17 , wherein the securing mechanism engages, when activated, a first side of the head of the bone fastener.

20. The bone plate of claim 17 , wherein the securing mechanism engages, when activated, a first side of the head of the bone fastener such that a second side, opposite of the first side, of the bone fastener engages an adjacent portion of the bone plate forming the opening in which the bone fastener is positioned forming a friction fitting.

21. The bone plate of claim 17 , wherein the securing mechanism engages, when activated, a positionable member which moves from a first unengaged position to a second position engaging a first side of the head of the bone fastener forming a friction fitting.

22. The bone plate of claim 17 , wherein the securing mechanism engages, when activated, a deformable portion of the cervical plate deforming the deformable portion which moves from a first unengaged position to a second position engaging a first side of the head of the bone fastener forming a friction fitting.

23. A method, comprising:

positioning an elongate plate such that substantially adjacent vertebrae are bridged, the elongate plate having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, wherein the first surface is positioned adjacent to at least a portion of a surface of the vertebrae, and wherein the elongate plate comprises a plurality of openings extending through the elongate plate;

anchoring the plate to the vertebrae by positioning shafts of a plurality of bone fasteners in at least some of the plurality of openings such that the shaft engages at least one of the vertebrae;

inhibiting a head of at least two of the bone fasteners from being conveyed through the opening such that the bone fasteners couple the elongate plate to the vertebrae;

activating a securing mechanism directly connected to the elongate plate such that removal of at least one of the bone fasteners is inhibited;

engaging a first side of the head of the bone fastener, using the securing mechanism, such that a second side, opposite of the first side, of the bone fastener engages an adjacent portion of the elongate plate forming the opening in which the bone fastener is positioned forming a friction fitting;

inhibiting movement of at least the shaft of the bone fastener in a lateral direction using the securing mechanism;

inhibiting translational movement of the head of the bone fastener relative to the elongate plate and substantially parallel to a sagittal plane using the securing mechanism; and

allowing movement of at least the shaft of the bone fastener substantially parallel to a sagittal plane.

24. The method of claim 23 , further comprising activating the securing mechanism such that backing out of at least one of the bone fasteners from at least one of the plurality of openings is inhibited.

25. The method of claim 23 , further comprising engaging a positionable member, using the securing mechanism, such that the positionable member moves from a first unengaged position to a second position engaging a first side of the head of the bone fastener forming a friction fitting.

26. The method of claim 23 , further comprising engaging a deformable portion of the cervical plate, using the securing mechanism, deforming the deformable portion which moves from a first unengaged position to a second position engaging a first side of the head of the bone fastener forming a friction fitting.

27. A method, comprising:

positioning an elongate plate such that substantially adjacent bone portions are bridged, the elongate plate having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, wherein the first surface is positioned adjacent to at least a portion of a surface of the bone portions, and wherein the elongate plate comprises a plurality of openings extending through the elongate plate;

anchoring the plate to the bone portions by positioning shafts of a plurality of bone fasteners in at least some of the plurality of openings such that the shaft engages at least one of the bone portions;

inhibiting a head of at least two of the bone fasteners from being conveyed through the opening such that the bone fasteners couple the elongate plate to the bone portions;

activating a securing mechanism directly connected to the elongate plate such that removal of at least one of the bone fasteners is inhibited;

engaging a first side of the head of the bone fastener, using the securing mechanism, such that a second side, opposite of the first side, of the bone fastener engages an adjacent portion of the elongate plate forming the opening in which the bone fastener is positioned forming a friction fitting;

inhibiting movement of at least the shaft of the bone fastener in a first direction using the securing mechanism;

allowing movement of at least the shaft of the bone fastener in a second direction substantially orthogonal to the first direction; and

inhibiting translational movement of at least the head of the bone fastener relative to the elongate plate in the second direction using the securing mechanism.

28. The method of claim 27 , further comprising activating the securing mechanism such that backing out of at least one of the bone fasteners from at least one of the plurality of openings is inhibited.

29. The method of claim 27 , further comprising engaging a positionable member, using the securing mechanism, such that the positionable member moves from a first unengaged position to a second position engaging a first side of the head of the bone fastener forming a friction fitting.

30. The method of claim 27 , further comprising engaging a deformable portion of the cervical plate, using the securing mechanism, deforming the deformable portion which moves from a first unengaged position to a second position engaging a first side of the head of the bone fastener forming a friction fitting.