Patent ID: 8236035

Claim:
A spinal fixation system for use in the fixation of a spine comprising: a coupling element having: a pair of opposed longitudinal apertures through a wall thereof extending from a top end of the coupling element to an aperture bottom in spaced relation from a bottom end of the coupling element, the wall defining an interior space dimensioned for admitting a bone fixation element thereinto, the apertures dimensioned for admitting a fixation rod diametrically through the interior space; a longitudinal slot in an interior surface of the coupling element extending from the coupling element top end to a slot bottom in spaced relation from the coupling element bottom end; and a hole through the bottom end dimensioned for admitting a shank of the elongated bone fixation element therethrough and smaller than a head of the bone fixation element for retaining the head within the interior space, the shank extending downwardly from the bone fixation element; a securing element dimensioned for vertical slidable insertion into the coupling element interior space atop the fixation rod, the securing element having an outwardly extending wing dimensioned for riding in the coupling element slot, for preventing a rotation of the securing element about a longitudinal axis thereof, an upwardly extending arm dimensioned for insertion into a locking element; a locking element comprising a mating element located circumferentially about an external surface thereof, a wall defining a locking element interior space, the space further comprising a groove therein for rotatably receiving and retaining the upwardly extending arm of the securing element, the mating element configured to mate with a complimentary mating element located on an interior surface of the coupling element; and a retaining element dimensioned for insertion into the coupling element interior space atop the bone fixation element head, the retaining element for retaining the fixation rod within the interior space, wherein the retaining element has an outwardly extending wing dimensioned for riding in the coupling element slot, for preventing a rotation of the retaining element about a longitudinal axis thereof.