Patent ID: 8226690

Claim:
A spinal stabilization system, comprising: a first bone anchor configured for spinal engagement into a first vertebra during use, wherein the first bone anchor comprises a seat; an arm member having a proximal end and a distal end; wherein the proximal end of the arm member comprises a seat engagement feature configured to couple to the seat of the first bone anchor via pivot connection during use, wherein the pivot connection is configured to secure the proximal end of the arm member to the seat of the first bone anchor, and wherein the pivot connection is configured to facilitate pivoting of the distal end of the first arm with respect to the seat to position the distal end of the arm member into a cradle of a second bone anchor; wherein the pivot connection is configured to facilitate pivoting the arm member between a first orientation and a second orientation, wherein the first orientation comprises a longitudinal axis of the arm member substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the seat, and wherein the second orientation comprises the longitudinal axis of the arm member substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the seat; and wherein the pivot connection is configured to inhibit removal of the arm member in a longitudinal direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the seat.