Patent ID: 8097025

Claim:
A tulip assembly configured to be coupled to a head of a bone fixation device comprising: at least one inner member configured to fix said tulip assembly to said head of said bone fixation device, wherein said at least one inner member is configured to engage said head of said bone fixation device; and an outer member configured to selectively fix a rod in the tulip assembly via rotation of said outer member; said bone fixation device comprising a pedicle screw having a threaded portion and said head portion; at least a portion of the tulip assembly having generally opposing channels for receiving a rod; said at least a portion of said tulip assembly being adapted to receive said rod and rotate about the rod to capture the rod and cause the rod to become locked in the tulip assembly after said at least one inner member fixes the tulip assembly to the head portion; each of said generally opposing channels being defined by a first surface and a generally opposing second surface, said first and second surfaces also cooperating to define a first channel portion and a second channel portion that is in communication with said first channel portion, said first channel portion defining a rod-receiving opening that opens at an end of said tulip assembly opposite of a second end of said tulip assembly from which said pedicle screw extends, said second channel portion extending about an axis of said tulip assembly.