Patent ID: 8313514

Claim:
A device for interconnection of components in a spinal implant assembly, comprising: a connector element including a passage sized to receive a portion of the component therein, said passage at least partially bound by a connector wall extending along an axis, a movable first wall portion and a stationary second wall portion each extending transversely from said connector wall, said connector wall including an upper end surface, an opposite lower end surface and an aperture extending transversely and entirely through said connector wall from said upper end surface to said lower end surface, wherein said first wall portion is integrally and unitarily formed with said connector element and is transitionable between a first configuration adapted to receive said portion of the component within said passage and a second configuration adapted to capture said portion of the component within said passage; and a retainer element positioned within and movable through said aperture and including a distal tip portion that extends out of said aperture beyond said lower end surface of said connector wall and into contact with an exterior outer surface of said first wall portion of said connector element to thereby displace said first wall portion toward said second wall portion while maintaining said second wall portion in a stationary position relative to said first wall portion and to selectively maintain said first wall portion in said second configuration to capture said portion of the component within said passage.