Patent ID: 8162991

Claim:
A multi-planar taper lock screw as a connecting device for securing a connecting rod to bone, comprising: an inner housing defining a longitudinal axis; an outer housing being slidable relative to said inner housing along said longitudinal axis and including a proximally located annular flange extending therefrom, said annular flange being generally transverse to said longitudinal axis, said annular flange being positioned to overhang a circumferentially defined annular gripping groove, said gripping groove being configured to facilitate grasping contact of a grasping tool for facilitating locking of a screw, said gripping groove projecting radially inwardly from at least a portion of a circumference of said outer housing; said screw including a threaded shaft and a head, said head disposed in said inner housing and positioned for angular movement relative to said longitudinal axis of said inner housing; a first slot defined in said inner housing and being positionable between a first position, where said first slot releasably locks a connecting rod therein, and a second position, where said connecting rod is freely positionable into and out of said first slot, said connecting rod defining a central longitudinal axis perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said inner housing; and a second slot defined in said outer housing and being aligned with said first slot in at least one of said first and second positions; said inner housing and said outer housing having generally complementary tapered opposing surfaces such that said outer housing applies a compressive force onto said inner housing as said outer housing slides proximally, said compressive force being sufficient to compress said inner housing to maintain said connecting rod and said screw in a releasably fixed position relative to said inner housing when said outer housing is in a proximal-most position; at least a portion of said outer housing intersects a plane extending laterally from said central longitudinal axis of said connecting rod as said outer housing slides relative to said inner housing along said longitudinal axis.