Patent ID: 7608095

Claim:
A method of securing a spinal rod to a spine comprising: providing a head portion having a channel extending therethrough for receiving a spinal rod; providing a bone fastener depending from the head portion; arranging the spinal rod in the channel of the head portion; providing a locking cap including an upper portion and a lower portion that are rotatably coupled together, the lower portion of the locking cap having an elongated recess, wherein the upper portion of the locking cap has diametrically opposed first and second flanges that are spaced from one another; assembling the locking cap with the head portion so that the recess of the lower portion is in contact with the spinal rod and so that the upper portion overlies the lower portion; after the assembling step and while maintaining the recess in contact with the spinal rod, rotating the upper portion of the locking cap relative to both the head portion and the lower portion of the locking cap for securing the position of the head portion relative to the spinal rod, wherein rotation of the upper portion of the locking cap is translated into a locking force applied by the lower portion of the locking cap onto the spinal rod.