Patent ID: 8002806

Claim:
A system for stabilizing a bony segment, comprising: an elongated implant; an anchor assembly engageable to said elongated implant to secure it to the spinal column, wherein said anchor assembly comprises: a receiver member defining a passage for receiving said implant and a distal opening extending transversely to said passage, said receiver further including a lip extending about said distal opening; an anchor member engageable to the bony segment, said anchor member including a head and a bone engaging portion extending through said distal opening; a seat member positioned between said implant and said anchor member; and a retainer including a distal seat end supported on said lip in said receiver member and a body defining a receptacle for pivotally receiving said head, said retainer extending proximally from said distal seat end and along said head of said anchor member to a proximal end, wherein said seat member is received in said receptacle and said retainer includes an outer wall surface that tapers proximally from said distal seat end to said proximal end when said retainer is supported on said lip in said receiver member; said head of said anchor member includes a pair of pins extending outwardly therefrom; and said retainer includes opposite passages extending in a wall thereof for rotatably receiving said pins therein; and wherein said head of said anchor member is pivotally engaged within said receptacle in said retainer when said pins are rotatably received and positioned within said opposite passages.