Patent ID: 8109974

Claim:
A spinal fixation device, comprising: a first elongate member having a terminal end with a first connecting feature formed thereon and having a circular shape, and a second elongate member having a second connecting feature with a circular shape, the first and second connecting features including teeth formed on a surface thereof that engage one another such that the first and second elongate members can be positioned in one of a plurality of angularly orientations relative to one another, wherein angular adjustment of the first elongate member is limited to a first plane and angular adjustment of the second elongate member is limited to a second plane that is parallel to the first plane; and a locking mechanism that extends through the first connecting feature and engages the second connecting feature to lock the elongate members in one of the plurality of angularly orientations relative to one another independent of a bone anchor, the locking mechanism extending along an axis that is substantially perpendicular to an axis of rotation of the first and second elongate members.