Patent ID: 7588593

Claim:
An assembly to secure a spinal segment including a plurality of vertebrae, the assembly comprising: at least one stabilizing rod; a plurality of vertebral anchors, each vertebral anchor having a first end to engage a vertebra and a connecting head end; and a plurality of connectors to secure the plurality of vertebral anchors to the at least one stabilizing rod, each connector comprising: an anchor clamp including a plurality of receptacles to receive the connecting head end of a vertebral anchor and to provide angular deflection and rotation of the anchor clamp with respect to the vertebral anchor; a compression spacer including a top, a tube and a tapered end, the tapered end to receive at least a portion of the anchor clamp within the tube, the tube to provide vertical travel and rotation of the anchor clamp with respect to the tube; and a rod receiver to house the compression spacer, the rod receiver including a first end having a transverse channel to receive the at least one stabilizing rod in the channel, the channel having threaded walls to receive a tightening nut, the rod receiver including a second end having a taper to receive the portion of the anchor clamp within the compression spacer.