Patent ID: 6136003
Filing Date: 2000-10-24
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
A connector for linking adjacent longitudinal members engaged to a spine, comprising:a pair of engaging members, each of said engaging members including:a connecting portion at one end, said connecting portions each being elongated and sized to span at least a portion of the distance between the adjacent longitudinal members,a receptacle configured to receive a longitudinal member when the connector is disposed over the adjacent longitudinal members,a fixation surface adjacent to said receptacle and configured for engaging a longitudinal member thereon, anda first thru-hole defined in said engaging member adjacent to said receptacle for receiving a wedge member, said thru-hole intersecting said receptacle and aligned at an angle relative to said fixation surface such that as the wedge member is advanced through said thru-hole the wedge member will bear against a longitudinal member in said receptacle and push the longitudinal member against said fixation surface to engage the connector to the longitudinal member; anda bridge member sized to span at least a portion of the distance between the adjacent longitudinal members and including:a pair of bores each for receiving a corresponding one of said connecting portions of said engaging members,a pair of engaging surfaces each adjacent to and contiguous with a respective one of said pair of bores for engaging said connecting portion, anda second thru-hole defined in said bridge member for receiving a wedge member, said second thru-hole intersecting each of said pair of bores such that as the wedge member is advanced through said second thru-hole the wedge member will bear against said connecting portion and push each of said connecting portions against a corresponding one of said engaging surfaces.