US Patent 8062340 Spinal rod anchor device and method

A spinal fixation system is provided that includes a coupling member and a locking device that is operable to fix an elongate member in the coupling member. There is also provided insertion instruments configured to install and remove various components of the spinal fixation system. In one form, the coupling member includes opposing side wall portions having a resilient portion on at least one of the side wall portions that cooperates with the locking device for being inserted into the coupling member via resilient flexing of the resilient portion. The coupling member and locking device also preferably include cooperating structure therebetween to define a plurality of distinct positions of the locking device in the coupling member.