Patent ID: 8409255

Claim:
A rod fixation assembly for fixing a screw and a rod comprising: a fixing mechanism including an inner passageway which receives the screw therethrough and compressively fixes the screw from movement relative to said fixing mechanism, said fixing mechanism also including an inner surface wall having a gripping portion which compressively grips a screw head and a non-gripping portion which allows passage of the screw head to said gripping portion; a rod seat disposed inside the inner passageway of the fixing mechanism and directly contacting the screw, the rod seat having a U-shaped inner wall for seating the rod therein, said rod seat including at least one flexible portion, the rod being seated within said rod seat, wherein said at least one flexible portion has a tapered outer surface end; and locking means disposed inside the inner passageway of the fixing mechanism and including a deflecting surface which directly contacts the tapered outer surface end of said at least one flexible portion and deflects said at least one flexible portion against the rod as said locking means engages the tapered outer surface end of said at least one flexible portion.