Patent ID: 7125426

Claim:
An anchor assembly for securing a fixation element, comprising: an anchor element adapted for attachment to bone and defining a central longitudinal axis, the anchor element having an open slot for receiving the fixation element, side walls on opposed sides of the open slot, a proximal portion, a distal portion, and an anchor flange segment extending from each of the side walls in a direction toward the central longitudinal axis, the anchor flange segments each including an inferior contact surface; and a closure element for closing the open slot in the anchor element and applying pressure to the fixation element to capture the fixation element within the open slot, the closure element including a closure body and a plurality of closure flange segments extending from the closure body in a direction that is transverse to the anchor element central longitudinal axis when the closure element is placed in the open slot, each closure flange segment including a superior contact surface extending in a direction away from the central longitudinal axis when the closure element is placed in the open slot so that the closure flange segment superior surfaces engage the anchor element flange segment inferior surfaces over a contact area when the closure element is placed in a closed position in the anchor element open slot; wherein the closure flange segments further include exterior surfaces that extend outward away from the longitudinal axis and toward the proximal portion of the anchor element at an angle when the closure element is placed in the open slot to provide a partial cone shaped outer surface to the closure flanges.