Patent ID: 8197519
Filing Date: 2012-06-12
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for connecting a bone anchor to a support rod, comprising: a connector body having an upper portion, a middle portion, and a lower portion, the lower portion including a socket for polyaxially receiving a head portion of the bone anchor, the upper portion including a pair of diametrically opposed arms defining a rod-receiving channel for receiving the support rod, each arm including an inner surface, an outer surface, opposite edge surfaces, a rim projecting radially inward, and a recess formed in the rim; and a cap sized and configured to engage the inner surfaces of the arms, the cap including a pair of bosses projecting radially outward, a pair of stoppers projecting radially outward, and a pair of flanges projecting radially outward and located beneath the bosses and stoppers; wherein the cap is receivable in the channel in a partially installed position in which the bosses, stoppers and flanges are located circumferentially between the arms of the connector body, rotation of the cap from the partially installed position toward an installed position causes the arms to interfere with further movement of the bosses, and further rotation of the cap to the installed position causes 1) the arms to deflect outwardly to move out of interference with the bosses such that the bosses are movable past the rim on each arm so as to be received in the recesses, and 2) the stopper to abut a side edge of an arm.