Patent ID: 7264621

Claim:
A multi-axial bone attachment assembly, comprising: a bone anchoring member comprising a head portion and an anchoring portion; a saddle member having a plurality of upright portions that define a channel through said saddle member such that an elongated rod may be received therein, wherein said upright portions include threaded portions, said saddle member further having a hole therethrough bounded by an inner wall through which said bone anchoring member may be inserted, said hole forming a lower opening in said saddle member that engages the head of the bone anchoring member such that the head of the bone anchoring member is prevented from passing therethrough, wherein said lower opening contains a plurality of angular cutouts placed symmetrically about the longitudinal axis the saddle member, the plurality of angular cutouts sized to receive a portion of the bone anchoring member to increase an allowable angulation of the bone anchoring member in relation to a longitudinal axis of the hole; and a set screw for threadedly engaging the threaded portions of the plurality of upright portions, said set screw further comprising an engaging portion for engaging the elongated rod.