Patent ID: 7314467

Claim:
A spinal fixation system comprising a first anchor screw assembly having a first screw having a threaded portion configured to be screwed into a first vertebrae, the first screw assembly including a first cylindrical swing bolt pivoted onto the first screw, and the first screw assembly comprising a first clamp assembly comprising lower and upper clamps each having a cylindrical opening therethrough disposed on the first swing bolt of the first screw assembly, the lower clamp having a bottom spherical seat at the edge of the cylindrical opening therein, the first clamp assembly having a first passage therethrough, the lower and upper clamps openings defining a cylindrical passageway for defining a clamp for receiving a rod, a second anchor screw assembly comprising a second screw having a threaded portion configured to be screwed into a second vertebrae adjacent the first vertebrae, the second screw assembly including a second cylindrical swing bolt pivoted onto the second screw, and the second anchor screw assembly comprising a second clamp assembly comprising lower and upper clamps each having a cylindrical opening therethrough disposed on the second swing bolt of the second screw assembly, the lower clamp having a bottom spherical seat at the edge of the cylindrical opening therein, the second clamp assembly having a second passage therethrough, the lower and upper clamps openings defining a cylindrical passageway for defining a clamp for receiving a rod, an elongate member receivable in the first and second passages, the elongate member comprising an exposed portion extending between the first and second screw assemblies, and wherein each of the first and second screws comprises a head portion opposite the threaded portion comprising a spherical shoulder, the spherical shoulder being adapted to mate, pivot and rotate 360° with respect to the bottom spherical seats of the respective first and second clamp assemblies, after the assembly has been secured.