Patent ID: 8029545

Claim:
A system for stabilization of a spinal column segment, comprising: an elongate member extending between a first end and a second end, said first end including a ball-shaped member having a circumferential cut and a connecting portion extending from said first end to a second end, said second end including an anchor engaging member defining a passage; a first anchor including a distal bone engaging portion extending on a longitudinal axis and a proximal head, said head including a bulbous shape with a chamfered surface defining a plane on one side of the head that is acutely angled with said longitudinal axis, the head further including an opening in said plane surrounded by said chamfered surface so that said opening lies in said plane and extends through said chamfered surface into a spherical socket defined by said head, said socket having a first maximum dimension and said opening into said socket having a second maximum dimension that is less than said first maximum dimension, wherein said cut is sized to pass through said opening when aligned therewith and said ball-shaped member is sized greater than said second maximum dimension to prevent said ball-shaped member from passing through said opening of said socket when said cut is not aligned with said opening, wherein said first anchor includes a collar that extends from said bone engaging portion to said head and said chamfered surface has a proximal end aligned with said longitudinal axis and extends in said plane through said collar to a distal end of said chamfered surface that is offset to one side of said longitudinal axis, said chamfered surface forming an acute angle with said longitudinal axis from said proximal end of said chamfered surface to said distal end of said chamfered surface; and a second anchor including a distal bone engaging portion and a proximal portion, said second anchor further including a stem pivotally coupled to said proximal portion and extending proximally from said bone engaging portion, said stem being positionable in said passage of said anchor engaging member of said elongate member for engagement thereto.