Patent attributes
An anchor assembly for use in spinal fixation to interconnect a longitudinal spinal rod, which is integrally formed with a body of the anchor assembly. The anchor assembly includes a bone anchor, a collet, a body portion, a rod portion, and a locking cap. The anchor assembly is preferably configured so that in use, the bone anchor may be secured to the patient's vertebra prior to being received within the body portion. The anchor assembly enables a surgeon to implant the bone anchor without the body portion to maximize visibility and access around the anchoring site. Once the bone anchor has been secured to the patient's vertebra, the rod portion may be inserted into the rod-receiving channel of a second bone fixation element having a rod-receiving channel implanted at a second site and the body portion can be snapped-onto the bone anchor.