Posterior pedicle screw having a taper lock

1. A taper lock bone screw comprising:

a coupling having an inner surface, the inner surface defining a first opening that extends through the coupling, the inner surface having a first annular beveled lip that extends upwards and inwards proximally and inwardly from a bottom edge of the coupling;

a collet having an inner surface and receivable in the first opening of the coupling, the inner surface of the collet defining a second opening having a second annular beveled lip that extends proximally and inwardly from a bottom edge of the collet, the collet defining a U-shaped saddle in a proximal end of the collet, the U-shaped saddle dimensioned to receive a rod, the collet being in contact with the coupling in a taper lock arrangement to secure the rod to at least one of the coupling and the collet such that the coupling is movable relative to the collet in a proximal direction toward the proximal end of the collet when the rod is received in the U-shaped saddle of the collet, wherein proximal movement of the coupling relative to the collet locks the rod within the U-shaped saddle of the collet; and

a pedicle screw including a shank, a head having a top and a bottom surface, and a neck between the bottom surface of the head and the shank, the head receivable in the second opening of the collet, such that the pedicle screw is movable throughout a plurality of positions and is substantially free from interference between the neck and the collet and between the neck and the coupling, the head contacting the inner surface of the collet when the head is received in the second opening of the collet.

2. The taper lock bone screw of claim 1 , wherein the pedicle screw has a conical range of motion of at least 70 degrees.

3. The taper lock bone screw of claim 1 , wherein

an angle is defined between the first annular beveled lip of the coupling and a centerline of the pedicle screw, the angle having a value between 32 and 72 degrees, and

a second angle is defined between the second annular beveled lip of the collet and the centerline of the pedicle screw, the second angle having a value between 25 and 65 degrees.

4. The taper lock bone screw of claim 1 , wherein

the shank includes a helical thread formed thereon; and

the neck has a diameter that is less than a diameter of the bottom surface of the head or a diameter of the helical thread of the shank.

5. The taper lock bone screw of claim 1 , wherein

the coupling has a U-shaped configuration including a plurality of fingers on opposing regions of the U shaped configuration; and

the U-shaped saddle of the collet has a plurality of wings, each wing of the plurality of wings defining a longitudinal axis such that longitudinal axes of the plurality of wings are on opposing regions of the collet, the U-shaped saddle defining a nadir.

6. The taper lock bone screw of claim 5 , wherein

at least one slot extends from the nadir of the U-shaped saddle towards a bottom portion of the collet.

7. The taper lock bone screw of claim 5 , wherein the collet defines at least one groove that extends substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of at least one wing of the plurality of wings, the at least one groove defining front and rear portions of the collet.

8. The taper lock bone screw of claim 5 , wherein the collet defines at least one notch that is open at a bottom portion of the collet and extends substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of at least one wing of the plurality of wings.

9. The taper lock bone screw of claim 5 , wherein the collet defines at least one groove that extends from the nadir of the U shaped saddle towards a bottom portion of the collet.

10. The taper lock bone screw of claim 5 , wherein the plurality of wings are adapted and configured to flex towards and away from one another.

11. The taper lock bone screw of claim 5 , wherein the size of the U-shaped saddle of the collet is adjustable by flexing the plurality of wings toward or away from one another.

12. The taper lock bone screw of claim 5 , wherein the U-shaped saddle of the collet is configured and adapted to frictionally secure the rod therein.

13. The taper lock bone screw of claim 1 , wherein the first and second annular beveled lips are disposed axially adjacent to each other along a longitudinal axis defined through proximal and distal ends of the taper lock bone screw to increase maximum angular orientation of the pedicle screw relative to the longitudinal axis when the pedicle screw is moved relative to the coupling and the collet.

14. The taper lock bone screw of claim 13 , wherein the pedicle screw has a conical range of motion of at least 70 degrees with respect to a centerline of the pedicle screw.

15. The taper lock bone screw of claim 14 , wherein the conical range of motion of the pedicle screw is at least 90 degrees with respect to the centerline of the pedicle screw.

16. The taper lock bone screw of claim 15 , wherein the conical range of motion of the pedicle screw is at least 95 degrees with respect to the centerline of the pedicle screw.

17. The taper lock bone screw of claim 13 , wherein the pedicle screw moves in a range of about 35 degrees to about 47.5 degrees relative to a centerline of the pedicle screw.

18. The taper lock bone screw of claim 1 , wherein the collet is integrally formed.

19. The taper lock bone screw of claim 1 , wherein the U-shaped saddle is positioned on a proximal end portion of the collet and the second opening of the collet is defined on a distal end portion of the collet, the coupling being axially movable relative to both the proximal and distal end portions of the collet when the rod is received within the U-shaped saddle of the collet.