Patent ID: 8690931

Claim:
A dynamic bone fixation element configured to couple a load carrier to bone, the dynamic bone fixation element comprising: a bone engaging component including a proximal end, a distal end spaced apart from the proximal end along a first direction, an inner surface that defines a lumen extending from the proximal end and toward the distal end, and a plurality of threads that are configured to engage bone; and a load carrier engaging component including a head portion structured to engage a load carrier and a shaft portion extending from the head portion along the first direction and into the lumen, the shaft portion having an outer surface that faces the inner surface such that an air gap is defined between at least a portion of the outer surface of the shaft portion and at least a portion of the inner surface of the bone engaging component along a direction that is perpendicular to the first direction such that at least the head portion is moveable with respect to the bone engaging component along a direction having a directional component that is transverse to the first direction, wherein rotation of the load carrier engaging component about an axis that extends substantially along the first direction causes the bone engaging component to simultaneously rotate about the axis.