Patent attributes
A medical screw system configured to facilitate determination of when the screw system is desirably set in a bone during implantation of the screw at a surgical site. The screw system includes a screw and a washer having a central ring surrounding a head receiving pocket configured for receiving the head of the screw, a plurality of arms spaced around and extending outwardly from the ring, the arms each having a bone contacting surface that engages the bone when the screw is implanted into the bone, and a groove defined between the arms and an exterior of the central ring. The groove is configured to enable the arms to flex when the screw system becomes desirably set into the bone to provide a visual indication that the screw is desirably set in the bone.