Patent ID: 7901436

Claim:
A spinal implant, comprising: at a first end, a fastener means for fastening to a vertebra; at a second end, an assembly head extending along an axis x-x′, said assembly head including a housing that is open in a direction facing away from the fastener means and presenting a cross-section that is substantially U-shaped, wherein said assembly head is constructed and arranged to receive a connection rod extending transversely to the axis x-x′; a clip insert structured to retain the connection rod in the assembly head, wherein the clip insert comprises a top portion having a cylindrical opening and extending over the cylindrical opening to cover the connection rod in part when the connection rod is engaged in the clip insert, wherein the top portion is deformable by application of force on the connection rod to engage the connection rod with the clip insert, wherein the clip insert and the assembly head are mechanically decoupled and wherein mechanical forces to which the assembly head is subjected are not transmitted to the clip insert; and a locking mechanism structured to secure the connection rod relative to the assembly head, wherein in a locked position, the clip insert and the locking mechanism are fully received within the assembly head and the clip insert is mechanically decoupled from the locking mechanism, and wherein the clip insert and the locking mechanism are constructed and arranged to receive the connection rod therebetween in the locked position.