Patent ID: 8109976

Claim:
A system, comprising: a first bone anchor including an elongated stem extending between a proximal end and a distal end, said elongated stem including a threaded portion and a post portion; a monolithic connector extending along a longitudinal axis between a first end and a second end, said connector including a smooth shaft portion positioned between said first and second ends, said connector including a pair of oppositely positioned branches extending from said smooth shaft portion toward said second end and defining a receptacle structured to receive said post portion and positionable and transitionable between an open configuration and a closed configuration, said connector including a tapered portion extending obliquely from the smooth shaft portion toward each of said pair of branches, said tapered portions defining a first section approximate to said smooth shaft portion and having a first width and a second section approximate to said branches and having a second width, said second width greater than said first width; an elongate support member including a first end portion and a shaft portion, said first end portion defining a passage structured to receive and engage a portion of said connector, said passage having a third width greater than said first width and less than said second width; and wherein said oppositely positioned branches of said connector move toward one another to force said receptacle toward said closed configuration to fix said connector relative to said post portion of said first bone anchor as said portion of said connector is received by said passage defined by said first end portion of said elongate support member and said passage is translated from said first section toward said second section.