Patent ID: 7794481

Claim:
A system for stabilizing a bony segment, comprising: an implant; a coupling assembly engageable to said implant, wherein said coupling assembly comprises: an anchor member engageable to the bony segment; a receiver member for receiving the implant; and a securing member movable relative to said receiver member to a first position wherein the implant is secured in contact with an implant support surface and an implant engaging surface of said coupling assembly and said coupling assembly provides a compression stress on said implant at said first position, said coupling assembly including a force limiting construct structured to maintain said compression stress exerted on said implant by said coupling assembly when in said first position by providing a minimum spacing between said implant support surface and said implant engaging surface as said securing member and said receiver member are moved relative to one another from said first position with said implant in contact with said implant support surface and said implant engaging surface to a second position to couple said anchor member in said coupling assembly, wherein said force limiting construct includes a seat member in said receiver member positioned between said implant and said anchor member, said seat member including opposite extensions extending at least partially about said implant and said securing member includes opposite extensions extending at least partially about said implant and positionable in contact with said opposite extensions of said seat member at said minimum spacing, the contact between said opposite extensions of said securing member and said seat member preventing movement of said implant support surface and said implant engaging surface toward another.