Patent ID: 8888819

Claim:
An implant for use in a minimally invasive spinal fixation, the implant comprising: a polyaxial bone anchor having a proximal head and a distal shaft extending along a longitudinal axis configured to engage bone; a connector body that moves polyaxially when unlocked and that is configured to engage the proximal head of the bone anchor and engage a spinal fixation element offset from the longitudinal axis of the bone anchor shaft, wherein the connector body comprises a slot to receive the spinal fixation element, the slot being open toward an end of the distal shaft so that the spinal fixation element is received in the slot in a direction from the distal shaft to the proximal head; wherein the connector body is configured to couple the spinal fixation element to the bone anchor so that a topmost portion of the spinal fixation element oriented proximally is surrounded by the connector body while a bottommost portion of the spinal fixation element oriented distally is not surrounded by the connector body and said bottommost portion lacks support underneath so that the implant is suitable for use in a rod first procedure; and an integrated securing mechanism comprising a structure integrated in the connector body in the slot to secure a position of the spinal fixation element in the slot; a set screw contacting the bone anchor to secure positions of the bone anchor relative to the connector body so as to lock polyaxial motion of the bone anchor and polyaxial motion of the connector body and to secure a position of the spinal fixation element by pushing the securing mechanism against the spinal fixation element.