Patent ID: 9005249
Filing Date: 2015-04-14
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. A spinal rod connector assembly for receipt on a vertebral bone screw, the spinal rod connector assembly comprising: a body defining an internal cavity, an upper opening in communication with the internal cavity, a lower opening in communication with the internal cavity, a lateral opening in communication with the internal cavity, and axially aligned first and second pivot bores in communication with the internal cavity; an articulating member situated in the internal cavity of the body, the articulating member defining first and second hemispherical cutouts, wherein the articulating member is configured to a) clamp onto a head of a vertebral bone screw received through the lower opening to fix orientation of the body relative to the head of the vertebral bone screw, and b) expand in a radial direction, both upon receipt of a downward force exerted on the articulating member; a first pivot pin received by the first pivot bore and the first hemispherical cutout; a second pivot pin received by the second pivot bore and the second hemispherical cutout; a spinal rod holder rotatably situated on the body at the lateral opening, the spinal rod holder configured to receive a spinal rod therethrough; and a spinal rod abutment member rotatably situated within the lateral opening of the body and extending into the spinal rod holder; wherein expansion of the articulating member in response to receipt of a downward force exerted on the articulating member moves the spinal rod abutment member into the spinal rod holder such that the spinal rod abutment surface abuts a spinal rod to fix the spinal rod to the spinal rod holder and fixes rotational orientation of the spinal rod holder.