Patent ID: 7585312

Claim:
An apparatus for stabilizing a spinal system, the apparatus comprising: a plate member adapted to be coupled to a vertebra of the spinal system; an adjusting means coupled to the plate member for selectively adjusting the direction of extension of at least a portion of a rod in a first coronal plane; and a washer disposed between the adjusting means and the plate member, the washer comprising a first plurality of teeth for engaging the plate member at a plurality of predetermined angular increments; wherein the at least a portion of the rod engages the adjusting means; wherein the adjusting means is able to be rotated in place relative to the plate member to adjust the direction of extension of the at least a portion of the rod in the first coronal plane; wherein the adjusting means comprises a housing member comprising: a collar portion having a through-opening through which the at least a portion of the rod is adapted to extend; and a coupling means extending from the collar portion for coupling the housing member to the plate member; wherein the coupling means comprises a pair of arms extending from the collar portion and through a bore formed through the plate member to form a snap fit between the housing member and the plate member; and wherein the adjusting means further comprises a clip member disposed between the arms and engaged with the plate member to prevent the housing member from decoupling from the plate member.