Patent ID: 7794482

Claim:
A device for osteosynthesis, comprising a fixation element having at least one through hole designed to receive a pivotable bushing for a bone screw, the through hole having a central axis defining a vertical centerline and a cross-section extending orthogonally to the vertical centerline defined by two incomplete semicircles connected to each other by at least two non-circular cut outs forming grooves in the fixation element; and at least one bushing insertable in the through hole, the bushing comprising: a top surface; a bottom surface; a longitudinal axis substantially perpendicular to the top and bottom surfaces; a central bore designed to receive a bone screw; and a peripheral outside face having at least two outwardly extending protrusions defining an axis of rotation of the bushing extending through the protrusions; wherein the bushing is configured and dimensioned to be radially compressible and radially expansible; and wherein a cross section of the bushing orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the bushing is shaped substantially the same as the cross section of the through hole such that when the bushing is inserted into the through hole, the bushing is pivotable about the axis of rotation defined by the protrusions.