Patent ID: 7828829

Claim:
A tulip assembly configured to be coupled to a head of a bone fixation device comprising: an inner tulip member including a lower portion configured to be coupled to the head of said bone fixation device and an upper rod-receiving portion including at least one flexible protrusion extending upwardly from said lower portion; an outer tulip member having an interior space and a central axis extending therethrough with the interior space being sized and configured to axially receive the inner tulip member and compressibly lock said lower portion of said inner tulip member on said bone fixation device; and a rod locking member configured for axial insertion to fit in a lateral space between the outer tulip member and the flexible protrusion and to shift said flexible protrusion in a lateral direction generally orthogonal to the central axis against the rod to securely lock said rod in the upper receiving portion of the inner tulip member.