Locking bone screw and spinal plate system

1. A bone screw, comprising:

an elongate member having a threaded shank, and a head at a proximal end thereof, the head being radially deformable and being defined by an outer wall defining an inner hollow region, at least one seating groove being formed in an inner surface of the outer wall; and

a screw locking mechanism at least partially disposed in the head, the screw locking mechanism being rotatable within the head between a locked condition and an unlocked condition, the screw locking mechanism being at a same axial location with respect to the head along a longitudinal axis of the head while in the locked condition and in the unlocked condition;

wherein the locking mechanism has a substantially circular shaped first portion adapted to be rotatably disposed within the seating groove, and a second portion that includes at least one locking feature that is adapted to engage the inner surface of the outer wall when the screw locking mechanism is in the locked condition and not engage the head when the screw locking mechanism is in the unlocked condition, and

wherein the head in the locked configuration is radially deformed from the head in the unlocked configuration.

2. The bone screw of claim 1 , wherein the head has at least one axially oriented slot formed in the outer wall and extending into the hollow region.

3. The bone screw of claim 2 , wherein the head has an outer diameter that is greater than a major diameter of the shank.

4. The bone screw of claim 2 , wherein the head has four slots.

5. The bone screw of claim 4 , wherein the locking mechanism has four locking features.

6. The bone screw of claim 5 , wherein the locking features are cam-like lobes.

7. The bone screw of claim 6 , wherein in the locked condition the locking features engage an inner surface of the outer wall of the head to prevent deformation of the head.

8. The bone screw of claim 7 , wherein in the unlocked condition the locking features align with the slots to permit deformation of the head.

9. The bone screw of claim 2 , wherein at least a portion of the outer wall of the head has a spherically shaped outer surface.

10. The bone screw of claim 2 , wherein the outer wall of the head has a tapered upper portion and a tapered lower portion.

11. The bone screw of claim 1 , wherein the seating groove extends circumferentially about the inner surface.

12. The bone screw of claim 1 , wherein the head has a drive feature formed at a distal portion of the inner hollow region.

13. The bone screw of claim 12 , wherein the locking mechanism has a drive feature.

14. The bone screw of claim 13 , wherein the drive feature in the locking mechanism and the drive feature in the head are coaxial.

15. The bone screw of claim 13 , wherein the drive feature in the locking mechanism is a rectangular female opening having an area larger than the area of the drive feature of the head.

16. The bone screw of claim 12 , wherein the drive feature in the head is a rectangular female opening.

17. The bone screw of claim 1 , wherein threads are disposed on an inner surface of the outer wall.

18. A bone screw, comprising:

an elongate member having a threaded shank, and a head at a proximal end thereof, the head being radially deformable and being defined by an outer wall defining an inner hollow region, and the head having a groove formed in the inner hollow region thereof; and

a screw locking mechanism that is rotatable within the head between a locked condition and an unlocked condition, the screw locking mechanism including a distal disc-shaped lip seated within the groove when the screw locking mechanism is in the locked condition and when the screw locking mechanism is in the unlocked condition, such that the screw locking mechanism is at a same axial location with respect to the head along a longitudinal axis of the head while in the locked condition and in the unlocked condition, and the screw locking mechanism including a proximal portion including a protrusion proximal to the lip that is configured to engage the head when the screw locking mechanism is in the locked condition and not engage the head when the screw locking mechanism is in the unlocked condition; and

wherein the maximum width of the proximal portion is larger than the internal diameter of the inner hollow region when the screw locking mechanism is in the unlocked condition.

19. A bone screw, comprising:

an elongate member having a threaded shank, and a head at a proximal end thereof, the head being radially deformable, the head being defined by an outer wall defining an inner hollow region, and the head having a channel formed in the inner hollow region thereof; and

a screw locking mechanism having proximal and distal portions, a maximum width of the proximal portion being smaller than a maximum width of the distal portion, the distal portion being at least partially disposed in the channel formed in the head and being rotatable therein, the head being in a first configuration when the proximal portion of the screw locking mechanism is in a first position relative to the head, the head being in a second configuration when the proximal portion of the screw locking mechanism is in a second position relative to the head, the second position being rotated from the first position about a longitudinal axis of the shank, and the head in the first configuration being radially deformed from the head in the second configuration;

wherein the screw locking mechanism is at a same axial location with respect to the head along a longitudinal axis of the head when the head is in first configuration and when the head is in the second configuration.