Patent ID: 7842073

Claim:
A locking mechanism for locking a rod in place within a screw and rod fixation assembly, the screw and rod fixation assembly including a fixing mechanism configured to receive a rod seating having a substantially U-shaped inner wall defining a rod seat, the locking mechanism comprising a body independent of the rod seating mechanism and having a locking element configured such that upon application of an axial, non-rotational force, the locking element engages and is axially locked relative to the fixing mechanism and wherein the locking mechanism body further engages the rod seating mechanism, a rod within the rod seating mechanism or the rod and the rod seating mechanism and locks the rod in place within the rod seat, and wherein said locking mechanism body further includes spring loading means for providing a biasing force between said locking mechanism and a rod disposed within the screw seat, said spring loading means being a washer seated adjacent a base of said locking mechanism body.