Patent ID: 8636775

Claim:
A variable angle spinal screw assembly adapted to be secured to a vertebra comprising: a) a body member having a lower opening that opens onto an interior surface; the body member including structure adapted to receive a rod in an upper portion thereof; b) a screw having a threaded shaft and an upper head portion; the upper head portion being uploaded into the body member interior through the lower opening so as to allow variable angular movement of the screw relative to the body member during assembly; c) the lower opening having a first geometric shape and the head portion having a second geometric shape that mate and the head portion passes through the lower opening when through manipulation the first and second geometric shapes are aligned and advanced axially together without rotation but wherein the head portion will not pass through the lower opening unless the first and second geometric shapes are aligned, after the head portion passes entirely through the opening, the body member being rotatable relative to the screw such that the first and second geometric slopes are not aligned so as to secure the screw in the body member; and d) a locking structure that when joined with the body member bears against the rod which in turn pushes downwardly to apply pressure to lock the head portion against the interior surface of the body member so as to fix the angular position of the body member relative to the screw when in an assembled configuration.