Patent ID: 8092494

Claim:
A pedicle screw coupling device for holding a spinal rod relative to a pedicle screw, the pedicle screw coupling device comprising: a coupling head having a bore therethrough and defining a first end sized to receive a pedicle screw shaft and a pedicle screw head of the pedicle screw and a second end sized to allow the pedicle screw shaft to pass through but rotatably retain the pedicle screw head, the coupling head further including a channel configured to receive the spinal rod; a collar releasably rotatably coupled directly to the coupling head; a sleeve received in the coupling head bore between the pedicle screw head and the collar, the sleeve having a first end abutting the pedicle screw head and a second end abutting the collar; a spinal rod retention element configured to be received through the collar and to fix the spinal rod received in the channel of the coupling head relative to the coupling head; wherein the collar applies pressure to the pedicle screw head through the sleeve to fix an orientation of the coupling head relative to the pedicle screw head responsive to the collar being rotatably coupled directly to the coupling head; wherein the fixation of the spinal rod relative to the coupling head is separate and independent of the fixation of the coupling head relative to the pedicle screw head.