Patent ID: 8298274

Claim:
A bone anchor assembly for engagement to an elongated member, comprising: a bone anchor including a head portion and a bone engaging portion; and a receiver including a top end, an opposite bottom end, an opening extending through said receiver from said top end to said bottom end, and a channel configured to receive the elongated member and arranged transverse to and communicating with said opening, said receiver including a retaining member occupying a groove in said receiver proximate said bottom end, said retaining member defining an aperture extending therethrough and an engagement surface surrounding a substantial portion of said aperture and configured to engage said head portion of said bone anchor, said engagement surface interrupted by a gap, said gap communicating with said aperture; and wherein said head portion of said bone anchor is engaged with said engagement surface to thereby permit multi-axial movement of said bone anchor relative to said receiver, and said aperture is sized smaller than said head portion to retain said head portion within said receiver.