Patent ID: 7744634
Filing Date: 2010-06-29
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. A spinal rod system, comprising: a first elongated rod extending along a longitudinal axis between a first end and an opposite second end, said first rod including a first rod portion with a length sized for attachment between vertebrae and a first characteristic corresponding at least to a first cross-sectional dimension between opposite sides of said first rod portion; a second elongated rod extending along a longitudinal axis between a first end and an opposite second end, said second rod including a second rod portion with a length sized for attachment between vertebrae and a second characteristic corresponding at least to a second cross-sectional dimension between opposite sides of said second rod portion; and a coupling mechanism for releasably coupling said first ends of said first and second rods in end-to-end fashion and said opposite sides of each of said first and second rod portions aligned with one another and extending from said coupling mechanism in opposite directions from one another, wherein one of said aligned first and second cross-sectional dimensions is less than the other of said aligned first and second cross-sectional dimensions, wherein one of said first and second rods includes a coupling member at an end thereof, said coupling member including an external thread pattern interrupted by a flattened surface portion extending along said coupling member.