Patent ID: 8439923

Claim:
A clamping body for a pedicle screw assembly, comprising: a first end portion; a second end portion; an axial passage extending axially between the first and second end portions; a spine rod receiving channel extending between the first and second end portions of the clamping body thereby forming upstanding leg portions of the clamping body, wherein a closed end portion of the spine rod receiving channel is located at the second end portion of the clamping body and wherein each one of said upstanding leg portions has a semi-circular cross-sectional shape; a material thickness reducing relief provided in an outer surface of each one of said upstanding leg portions at a location between the closed end portion of the spine rod receiving channel and the first portion of the clamping body such that a segment of each one of said upstanding leg portions extending between the material thickness reducing relief and the first end portion of the clamping body is frangibly detachable from a segment of each one of said upstanding leg portions extending between the material thickness reducing relief and the closed end portion of the spine rod receiving channel; and a first bridge member connected between said upstanding leg portions at the first end portion of the clamping body, wherein the first bridge member spans across the spine rod receiving channel, wherein the first bridge member has a semi-circular cross-sectional shape and is substantially concentric with each one of said upstanding leg portions, wherein a first undercut slot is provided between the first bridge member and the first one of said upstanding leg portions such that the first one of said upstanding leg portions is connected to the first bridge member by a first tab of material at a closed end portion of the first undercut slot.