Patent ID: 7081117

Claim:
A spinal anchor assembly for securing a spinal fixation element, comprising: an anchor element adapted for attachment to bone and defining a central longitudinal axis, the anchor element having an open slot for receiving the spinal fixation element, side walls on opposed sides of the open slot, and a plurality of anchor flange segments extending from the side walls in a direction generally transverse to the central longitudinal axis, the anchor flange segments each including an inferior contact surface extending in a direction with respect to the central longitudinal axis that defines a radial slant; and a closure element for closing the open slot in the anchor element and applying pressure to the spinal fixation element to capture the spinal fixation element within the open slot, the closure element including a closure body and a plurality of closure flange segments extending from the closure body in a direction that is transverse to the anchor element central longitudinal axis when the closure element is placed in the open slot, each closure flange segment including a superior contact surface extending at an angle corresponding to the radial slant when the closure element is placed in the open slot so that the closure flange segment superior surfaces engage the anchor element flange segment inferior surfaces when the closure element is placed in a closed position in the anchor element open slot; wherein the anchor element and closure element flanges are configured to permit the closure element to be placed into the open slot in the anchor element in an open position and to be twisted into the closed position, and the radial slant is configured so that, when the closure element is in its closed position and pressure is applied to secure the spinal fixation element within the open slot in the anchor element, the anchor element and closure element flanges are drawn together.