Patent ID: 8870930

Claim:
A method of stabilizing a spine comprising: providing a coupling element having an uppermost end defining a first plane and having rod receiving openings for securing an orthopedic rod, a lowermost end defining a second plane, a first bore extending from said uppermost end toward said lowermost end, and a second bore extending from said lowermost end toward said uppermost end, the first and second bores are within a monolithic inner surface of said coupling element, wherein said first and second planes intersect one another and wherein said first bore is at an angle transverse to said second bore; assembling said coupling element with an anchoring element; after the assembling step, securing said anchoring element in bone; moving said coupling element relative to said anchoring element to align said rod receiving openings with said orthopedic rod; securing said orthopedic rod in said rod receiving openings; and after the securing step, locking said coupling element from further movement relative to said anchoring element.