Patent ID: 8337527

Claim:
A spinal connector comprising: a body defining first, second and third seats orientated in a side-by-side configuration; the first and second seats each having a lower surface and inner and outer opposed arms extending upwardly from the lower surface and defining respective first and second longitudinal openings having first and second longitudinal axes adapted to receive respective first and second spinal connecting members therein, the outer arms defining opposed lateral ends of the spinal connector; the third seat having opposed lateral sides defining the inner arms of the first and second seats, an upper peripheral wall defining a third circular opening and a substantially spherically shaped lower surface rotatably receiving a ball enclosure, the ball enclosure having a spherically shaped outer surface and a longitudinal through-bore defining a third longitudinal axis adapted to receive a third spinal connecting member at a variable orientation relative to the first and second connecting members; and first, second and third locking elements threadably engageable with the corresponding first, second and third openings for securing the respective first, second and third spinal connecting members to the corresponding first, second and third seats, the third locking element configured to engage the ball enclosure.