#$%^&*AU2014202155A120140522.pdf#####Abstract The invention relates to a polyaxial screw assembly including pedicle screw, a coupling, a housing, and an insert. The pedicle screw has a head having a recess and a plurality of gaps. The coupling has a plurality of knobs that mate with the plurality of gaps and the lower surface of the coupling mates with the recess in the head of the pedicle screw. The housing has a passageway that forms a longitudinal axis through the housing. The passageway narrows at a point between a distal opening and a proximal opening. The distal portion of the passageway is partially threaded. The insert is configured to be slid over the shank of the pedicle screw and thread into the distal opening of the housing. The insert has a threaded outer diameter that mates with the threaded distal portion of the housing and an opening extending therethrough. The diameter of the opening of the insert is dimensioned to be less than the outer diameter of the head and greater than the shank of the pedicle screw. As a result, the insert sandwiches the pedicle screw and coupling within the housing. Threading the insert into the bottom of the housing joins the pedicle screw and coupling arrangement to the housing, thereby forming the polyaxial screw assembly. As assembled, the pedicle screw is rotatable and pivotable in the housing.
