Patent ID: 7771474
Filing Date: 2010-08-10
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. A transverse connector system for rigidly joining together two spinal rods at a desired spatial orientation comprising: a connector formed of first and second elongated members, a middle coupler and a locking member, each elongated member defining a longitudinal axis, proximal and distal ends, and having a rod receiving recess and a receiving bore adjacent each rod receiving recess, each rod receiving recess and receiving bore being located on a proximal end of each elongated member, the middle coupler being mounted on the distal end of the first elongated member for enabling limited pivotal movement about an axis substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the first elongated member, the distal end of the second elongated member is configured for extending into the middle coupler for relative movement along and rotation about its longitudinal axis, the locking member being arranged to lock the distal ends of the first and second elongated members together at a desired relative rotational alignment, and a clamping pin member is disposed within each receiving bore, the clamping pins are arranged to be retracted within their associated bores to capture the spinal rods within the rod receiving recesses and rigidly join the rods to the connector, and the distal end of the first elongated member defines a threaded cylindrical locking member receiving bore, and the middle coupler has a U-shaped lateral side opening extending through the middle coupler with an upper section defining an opening in registration with the first elongated member and a lower section defining a radiused interior surface through which the distal end of the second member extends and wherein the locking member is in the form of a coupler set screw threadably received in the threaded cylindrical bore in the distal end of the first elongated member whereby advancement of the coupler set screw locks the distal ends of the first and second elongated members together at the desired relative rotational and longitudinal alignment.