Patent ID: 7186255

Claim:
A modular polyaxial screw assembly for attaching a surgical appliance to the body comprising a screw, a swivel and a universal connector, said screw including a shaft having a helical thread thereon for securing the assembly to the bone, said shaft having a head on one end, said head tapering from a large diameter to a small diameter toward said one end of said shaft said swivel rotatably mounted on said head, said swivel being resilient, having a generally spherical outer surface and having an opening smaller than said larger diameter, said opening expanded over said large diameter and contracted thereby securing said swivel to said head, said universal connector having a generally domed shaped cavity on one end and bifurcated tabs extending therefrom, said dome shaped cavity frictionally engaging said generally spherical surface whereby said bifurcated tabs have universal movement to capture a surgical appliance therebetween.