Patent ID: 8506600

Claim:
A method of stabilizing bone comprising: providing a coupling element having first and second sections, each having a central axis that intersect with one another and a first bore extending through said first section and a second bore extending through said second section, said coupling element having rod receiving openings for receiving an elongated member and a seat in said second section having sidewalls in which at least a portion of said sidewalls taper inwardly toward a bottom portion of said second section of said coupling element such that at least a portion of said seat is substantially conical and an anchoring element having at least a portion disposed in said seat; securing said anchoring element in bone; moving said coupling element relative to said anchoring element to align said rod receiving openings with said elongated member; securing said elongated member in said rod receiving openings; and after the securing step, locking said coupling element from further movement relative to said anchoring element, wherein said anchoring element has a head and, upon locking, said head directly contacts both of said elongated member and said seat.