Patent ID: 7837714
Filing Date: 2010-11-23
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. An apparatus, comprising: two bone attachment devices structured to anchor to bone, each of the bone attachment devices including a distal bone engaging portion and a proximal end opposite the distal bone engaging portion; a crosslink device structured to interconnect the two bone attachments devices and adjustably span a distance separating the two bone attachment devices, the crosslink device including: two engaging members, a first one of the engaging members being structured to engage the first connector and the first bone attachment device when the first connector is aligned with the first one of the bone attachment devices to secure the first member thereto, and a second one of the engaging members being structured to engage the second connector and the second bone attachment device when the second connector is aligned with the second one of the bone attachment devices to secure the second member thereto, wherein at least one of the bone attachment devices includes a receiver portion at the proximal end of the bone attachment device and an elongate spinal stabilization element extending through the receiver portion in a transverse orientation to the crosslink device, and at least one of the engaging members includes a head at a proximal end thereof and a threaded stem extending from the head that is threadingly engaged in the receiver portion, wherein the head contacts the respective connector to rigidly engage crosslink device to the receiver portion while a distal end of the threaded stem is spaced from the elongate spinal stabilization element in the receiver portion so that the elongate spinal stabilization element is free to axially translate and rotate relative to the at least one bone attachment device when the crosslink device is rigidly engaged to the at least one bone attachment device.