Patent ID: 8491641

Claim:
An anchoring device, used in conjunction with a stabilizing rod, for stabilizing one or more spinal bone segments, the anchoring device engaging a segment of the stabilizing rod and configured to anchor the stabilizing rod to the one or more spinal bone segments, the anchoring device comprising: a screw having a spherical joint and a threaded shaft coupled to the spherical joint; an adaptive member having a first opening, an inner rim defining a second opening and a compression lock disposed adjacent to the first opening, the adaptive member configured to house a substantial portion of the spherical joint between the first and second openings, the compression lock, when deployed, configured to contact the spherical joint and to prevent the spherical joint from passing through the first opening; a cradle configured to hold the adaptive member and reinforce the inner rim of the adaptive member; a cap configured to engage the cradle, thereby directing a compression force to the deployed compression lock; wherein the inner rim has a convex ring configured to pivot the spherical joint along a circular path thereon, thereby allowing limited movement between the threaded shaft and the adaptive member while preventing the spherical joint from passing through the second opening; wherein the compression lock has first and second surfaces, and wherein the first surface is configured to receive the compression force and the second surface is configured to engage the spherical joint when the compression lock is deployed; and wherein the spherical joint, upon receiving the compression force, is configured to partially depress the convex ring of the inner rim, and wherein the inner rim is configured to assert a reaction force to the spherical joint such that the compression force cooperates with the reaction force to substantially reduce the limited movement between the threaded shaft and the adaptive member.