Patent ID: 8083772

Claim:
A spine stabilization system adapted to stabilize a first bone of a spine relative to a second bone of the spine, wherein the spine stabilization system comprises: a bone anchor having a post connected to a threaded shaft adapted to engage the first bone of the spine; an elongated spinal rod having a first end, a second end and a longitudinal rod axis; a housing at the first end of the of the elongated spinal rod; a rod bore passing through the housing perpendicular to the rod axis; a spherical pocket within the bore; a ball-shaped mount trapped within the spherical pocket; a ball bore passing through the ball-shaped mount and which ball bore can receive the post of the bone anchor; and wherein the ball-shaped mount is configured to provide a non-locking ball-joint such that the elongated spinal rod may be secured to the bone anchor substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal rod axis while allowing the elongated spinal rod to pivot through a range of motion relative to the bone anchor after securing the elongated spinal rod to the bone anchor.