Paragraph Number

51

Thus, the flat surfaces 122 and the corresponding surfaces 124 may cooperate to define rotation limiters as described above. Notably, the rotatable structures 112 may rotate clockwise from the unlocked orientation into the locked orientation. Loosening rotation of the screws 104 (counterclockwise) may tend to rotate the rotatable structures 112 further in the clockwise direction. Engagement of the flat surfaces 122 with the corresponding surfaces 124 may prevent such further clockwise rotation of the rotatable structures 112, thereby ensuring that the rotatable structures do not over-rotate clockwise, beyond the locked orientation, in response to torque tending to loosen the screws 104. Rather, as the rotatable structures 112 are unable to rotate further clockwise, counterclockwise (loosening) motion of the screws 104 may be prevented. Any counterclockwise torque in the screws 104 may tend to retain the rotatable structure 112 in the locked orientation, ensuring that the rotatable structure 112 does not migrate to the unlocked orientation after a surgical procedure is complete. This is more clearly shown and described in FIG. 3A.

Added by DJM 5 2021