Patent ID: 8657826

Claim:
An apparatus for use in attaching an additional construct to a spinal rod in an existing spinal construct implanted in a patient, comprising: a rod connector extension assembly comprising a rod connector and a first elongate extension releasably secured to said rod connector, said rod connector comprising a first portion, a second portion and a locking member, said first portion including an opening for receipt of said existing spinal rod, said second portion being articulatingly attached to said first portion and configured for supporting an additional spinal rod, said second portion being releasably secured to said first elongate extension, said locking member being movably supported within said first portion for engagement with and for fixedly securing said first portion to said existing rod while allowing said second portion with said first elongate extension to articulate relative to said first portion, said first portion of said rod connector being configured to attach to said existing spinal rod at a location distal from the location where said second portion is secured to said first elongate extension upon rotation of said first portion independently of said second portion, said first portion comprising a pair of spaced hooks, each hook including a projecting rod engagement member that engages said existing spinal rod upon said rotation of said first portion relative to said existing spinal rod; a bone implant extension assembly comprising a bone implant and a second elongate extension releasably secured to said bone implant, said bone implant having a slot for said additional spinal rod and being releasably secured to said second elongate extension, said second extension having at least one slot in communication with said slot in said bone implant; and an additional spinal rod having opposite ends, one end being secured to said second portion of said rod connector and said opposite end of said additional spinal rod being received by and secured within said slot in said bone implant.