Patent ID: 8377101

Claim:
A spinal fixation device, comprising: a coupling having an opening extending therethrough; a pedicle screw having a head mounted to a shank, the shank positionable within a first vertebral body; and a collet receivable in the opening of the coupling and engagable with the head of the pedicle screw, the collet selectively positionable between a first position and a second position where the collet engages a spinal rod and prevents at least one of axial and rotational movement of the spinal rod, the collet adapted to facilitate connection of the spinal rod to a second vertebral body, the collet defining a saddle, the saddle defining at least two locking features within a surface of the saddle for engaging the spinal rod, each locking feature having a radius defined by a center point, the center points of the at least two locking features being non-coincidental, the coupling and the collet being configured to lock the pedicle screw while enabling the spinal rod to slide and/or rotate within the collet and/or the coupling when the coupling and the collet are positioned in a partially locked condition.