Patent ID: 7776067

Claim:
A polyaxial bone screw assembly comprising: a) a shank having an upper portion and a body for fixation to a bone, the upper portion having a projected end; b) a receiver defining an open channel and a cavity communicating with the open channel; c) a retaining and articulating structure separate from the shank and being sized and shaped to be downloaded into the cavity; the retaining and articulating structure being received in the cavity and also being attachable to the shank upper portion within the cavity such that, after being attached to the shank upper portion, the retaining and articulating structure polyaxially pivots together with the shank upper portion relative to the receiver during positioning of the receiver relative to the shank, the retaining and articulating structure holding the shank upper portion in the receiver and pivotally engaging the receiver during angular positioning of the shank relative to the receiver, the shank projected end extending outwardly beyond the retaining and articulating structure when the upper portion is attached to the retaining and articulating structure; and d) a pressure insert receivable in the receiver cavity, the pressure insert having an engagement position wherein the pressure insert exerts a downward force exclusively on the shank projected end to frictionally lock an angular position of the retaining and articulating structure and the shank relative to the receiver, when the assembly is fully assembled.