Patent ID: 7731736

Claim:
A fixation connector for securing a linking element to a bone, the fixation connector comprising: a bone anchor; a receiver coupled to the bone anchor, the receiver including: a seat portion including a planar surface opposite an open top end of the receiver; legs extending upward from the seat portion to the open top end, the legs defining a pocket for receiving the linking element; each leg having a tapered exterior surface and a locking geometry, and a first tab that projects into the pocket for provisionally retaining the linking element within the pocket, wherein with the linking element resting against the planar surface of the seat portion, the first tab exerts a provisional clamping force on the linking element to restrict axial and/or rotational movement of the linking element relative to the receiver; and a fastening member slidably couplable to the receiver including a locking geometry configured to engage the locking geometry of the legs; and a tapered surface on the fastening member, the tapered surface operative to move the legs toward one another and thereby exert a final clamping force on the linking element to clamp the linking element received in the pocket of the receiver when the fastening member is slidably coupled to the receiver; wherein the final clamping force is greater than the provisional clamping force.