Patent ID: 7695500

Claim:
A polyaxial occipital plate assembly that engages a longitudinal member, said assembly comprising: a polyaxial connector head; a socket portion adapted to retain said polyaxial connector head; a flexible clip operatively connected to said socket portion and adapted to receive said longitudinal member, wherein said flexible clip comprises a flexible bias member adapted to retain said longitudinal member; an occipital plate comprising clips operatively connected to said polyaxial connector head, wherein said occipital plate comprises: a body portion; a first leg extending from said body portion; and a second leg extending from said body portion, wherein the first and second legs are substantially parallel to one another, wherein the first and second legs each comprise slotted caudal ends that are adapted to fit through said polyaxial connector head; and a locking mechanism operatively connected to said polyaxial connector head and said clips, wherein said locking mechanism comprises a pin portion operatively connected to said socket portion and said polyaxial connector head, wherein engagement of said locking mechanism to said polyaxial connector head causes said clips to lock into said polyaxial connector head and causes said slotted caudal ends to push said pin portion thereby causing outward expansion of said polyaxial connector head thereby causing said flexible bias member to squeeze against said longitudinal member.