Patent ID: 8118837

Claim:
An apparatus for joining two rods, comprising: a first resilient insert comprising: a first set of two deflectable arms; and a first channel formed between the first set of two deflectable arms, wherein the first channel has a width approximately equal to the diameter of a first spinal rod; a second resilient insert comprising: a second set of two deflectable arms; and a second channel formed between the second set of two deflectable arms, wherein the second channel has a width approximately equal to the diameter of a second spinal rod, wherein the first spinal rod and the second spinal rod have similar or dissimilar diameter or shape; and a body having a first opening at a first end, a second opening at a second end, and a passage in communication with the first opening and the second opening from the first end to the second end, wherein the first opening has an inner diameter, the second opening has an inner diameter, and the passage has an inner diameter, wherein the first resilient insert has a portion having an outer diameter greater than the inner diameter of the first opening of the body when the first resilient insert is in a neutral state, wherein advancement of the first resilient insert into the first opening of the body deflects the first set of two deflectable arms inward, causing the width of the first channel to decrease, thereby holding the first spinal rod at the first end of the body, and wherein the second resilient insert has a portion having an outer diameter greater than the inner diameter of the second opening of the body when the second resilient insert is in a neutral state, wherein advancement of the second resilient insert into the second opening of the body deflects the second set of two deflectable arms inward, causing the width of the second channel to decrease, thereby holding the second spinal rod at the second end of the body.