US Patent 7794481 Force limiting coupling assemblies for spinal implants

The forces exerted on a spinal implant by one or more coupling assemblies are controlled to facilitate the use of the implant in spinal stabilization and other procedures. The coupling assemblies are structured to limit the forces exerted on the implant to avoid undesirable alteration of a characteristic of the implant while engaging the implant to the coupling assembly and providing at least one of a rigid, semi-rigid or variable engagement of the coupling assembly with one or more anatomical structures of the spinal column.