Patent ID: 8419771
Filing Date: 2013-04-16
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. A crosslink for fixing the position of two spine rods secured to opposing sides of a spine, the crosslink comprising in combination: a tie rod; two housings; each said housing including a spine rod fastener adapted to adjustably fix said housing to one of the spine rods; each said housing including a tie rod fastener adapted to adjustably fix each said housing to said tie rod; said spine rod fastener is independent of said tie rod fastener; wherein said tie rod fastener includes a bore passing into said housing, said bore sufficiently large to receive an end of said tie rod therein, said housing including at least one movable structure within said housing adapted to bear on said tie rod within said housing to secure said tie rod to said housing; wherein said tie rod fastener includes said tie rod having a neck on each end thereof and a head on each end thereof, said heads further from a central portion of said tie rod than said necks; said movable structure adapted to engage one of said necks of said tie rod and secure one of said necks of said tie rod within said housing; and wherein said movable structure includes a pair of hemispherical clamps, each said hemispherical clamp having a flat surface adjacent said neck of said tie rod, said flat surface including a hemi-cylindrical groove therein adapted to receive said neck of said tie rod therein, said hemispherical clamps including a spherical surface opposite said flat surface with a post extending from said spherical surface substantially perpendicular to said flat surface, said hemispherical clamps located within a chamber inside said housing accessed by said bore, said chamber having a threaded upper end which is accessible from out of said housing at a location spaced from said bore, said threaded upper end including a set screw therein having a threaded side wall and said set screw including a concave face with a blind bore in a center thereof, said blind bore adapted to receive said post of said spherical surface of one of said hemispherical clamps therein, said blind bore having a larger diameter than a diameter of said post, said concave face adapted to bear on said spherical surface of said hemispherical clamp when said set screw is rotated, causing said threaded side wall of said set screw to engage with said threaded upper end of said chamber to draw said set screw down into said chamber and against said hemispherical clamp.