Patent ID: 7909856

Claim:
A method of securing a spinal rod to a spine comprising: providing a head portion having a channel extending therethrough for receiving a spinal rod, the channel in the head portion being bounded by a first side wall having a first slot and a second side wall having a second slot; providing a bone fastener depending from the head portion; arranging the spinal rod in the channel of the head portion; providing a locking cap having first and second portions that are rotatable relative to one another, the first portion of the locking cap having diametrically opposed first and second flanges that are spaced from one another and the second portion of the locking cap having an underside with a recess; assembling the locking cap with the head portion so that the recess of the second portion of the locking cap is in contact with the spinal rod and so that the opposed first and second flanges of the first portion of the locking cap are aligned with the channel extending through the head portion; while maintaining the recess of the second portion of the locking cap in contact with the spinal rod, rotating the first portion of the locking cap so that the first flange engages the first slot in the first side wall of the head portion and the second flange engages the second slot in the second side wall of the head portion.