Patent ID: 7618442

Claim:
An assembly for use in spinal stabilization procedures, comprising: a first bone anchor assembly comprising: a first anchor a first poly-axial head mated with the anchor such that the anchor is movable in relation to the poly-axial head, the first poly-axial head including a cavity; and a second bone anchor assembly comprising: a second anchor; a second poly-axial head mated with the second anchor such that the second anchor is movable in relation to said second poly-axial head; a slide ring rotatably mated in the second poly-axial head; a connector slidably mated in the slide ring along a distal end, and having a proximal end having an enlarged portion; wherein the connector is movable from a first position axially inline with the second bone anchor to a second position wherein the enlarged portion of the connector rests in the cavity of the first poly-axial head, and wherein the first position is used to implant the first bone anchor assembly, and the second position used to hold the assembly in a fixed orientation; and a snap ring in the first poly-axial head, the snap ring holding the enlarged portion of the connector in the cavity.