Patent ID: 8298269

Claim:
A method of revising a previously-implanted spinal implant apparatus, comprising: accessing the previously-implanted spinal implant apparatus, said apparatus having a first rod fixed to the heads of at least two fixation members; connecting a first connector to a first of said fixation member heads and a second connector to a second of said fixation member heads, each of said connectors having a substantially planar base with a first end portion and a second end portion and an L-shaped leg offset from said base, said leg and said base forming a second channel configured for receipt of a second rod, said first end portion of said base having a threaded first hole facing part of said leg, said second end portion of said base having a second hole, said holes having respective longitudinal axes that are substantially parallel, wherein said second end portion of said base substantially covers said head of said bone fixation member; placing the second rod in said channels of said connectors: placing a set screw into the first hole; inserting a locking member into the second hole to lock said second rod to said connectors, wherein said locking member is engaged with said head of said bone fixation member to lock said locking member and said connector body to said bone fixation member; and wherein said leg includes a surface substantially facing said second end portion, said surface having an indentation and wherein said indentation is substantially part-cylindrical to accommodate part of said head of said bone fixation member.