Patent ID: 8241341

Claim:
A pedicle screw comprising: a threaded screw body having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end comprising an enlarged head; a housing having an upper portion having an upper opening and a lower portion having a lower opening extending along a first axis of the housing, the upper portion being internally threaded and the lower portion having a gradually decreasing dimension toward the lower opening, and a third opening and a fourth opening along a second axis transverse to the first axis adapted to receive an elongated rod; a plurality of clamps completely separate from each other and positioned side-by-side adjacent the lower portion of the housing, each of the clamps having an upper surface adapted to engage the elongated rod and a lower surface adapted to engage the enlarged head; and a set screw configured to be received within the internally threaded first portion, wherein the set screw when engaged in the first opening applies a force onto the rod when received in the housing, the rod engaging the plurality of clamps and causing the clamps to frictionally engage the enlarged head between the lower surfaces of the clamps.