Patent ID: 7704270

Claim:
A bone fixation assembly comprising: a rod receiving portion having a first opening for receiving a rod, and an elongate second opening for receiving a portion of a fixation element; a sliding component having a third opening for receiving a portion of the fixation element, and a channel for slidably receiving a portion of said rod receiving portion, the second and third openings being alignable so that the fixation element can be inserted therethrough, the channel allowing movement of said sliding component and the fixation element with respect to said rod receiving portion and the rod disposed in said first opening; a first locking element associated with said rod receiving portion to secure the rod in the first opening; and a second locking element in direct contact with said sliding component, said rod receiving portion, and said fixation element to secure the fixation element in the second and third openings and to secure said sliding component to said rod receiving portion, said second locking element including a locking nut seated in the third opening, wherein tightening of the locking nut to a locked position prevents movement of said sliding component with respect to said rod receiving portion and the fixation element with respect to said sliding component and said rod receiving portion.