Patent ID: 8034084

Claim:
A spine stabilization system, comprising: a first bone fastener assembly configured to be coupled to a first vertebral body, the first bone fastener assembly having a first slot defined therein to receive an elongate member; a second bone fastener assembly configured to be coupled to a second vertebral body, the second bone fastener assembly having a second slot defined therein to receive the elongate member; a first detachable member detachably coupled to the first bone fastener assembly, the first detachable member having a proximal end region and a distal end region with a first passage defined therebetween, the first detachable member having a first channel therein, the first channel being in communication with the first passage along at least the distal end region of the first detachable member, the first channel defined in the first detachable member being aligned with and in communication with the first slot of the first bone fastener assembly such that when the first detachable member is coupled to the first bone fastener assembly an elongate member can pass directly from the first channel into the first slot, the first channel extending along about 25% or more of a length of the first detachable member, wherein the first detachable member defines a second channel in communication with the first passage, the second channel being located opposite the first channel; and a second detachable member detachably coupled to the second bone fastener assembly, the second detachable member having a proximal end region and a distal end region with a second passage defined therebetween, the second detachable member having a first channel and a second channel therein, the first and second channels of the second detachable member being in communication with the second passage along at least the distal end region of the second detachable member, at least one of the first and second channels of the second detachable member being aligned with and in communication with the second slot of the second bone fastener assembly.