Patent ID: 8608780

Claim:
A cross-link device, comprising: a fixed portion sized to be guided through a first incision in a patient's body to a first elongated member positioned on a first side of a spine of the patient , wherein the fixed portion comprises a transverse portion and a receiver portion, wherein the transverse portion is shaped to extend perpendicularly to the first elongated member and sized to span a distance between the first elongated member and a second elongated member positioned on a second side of the spine, wherein the receiver portion of the fixed portion is shaped to connect to the first elongated member, wherein the fixed portion includes a cannulated passage extending through the transverse portion and the receiver portion, the cannulated passage sized to receive a guide wire; and an adjustable portion sized to be guided through a second incision to the second elongated member positioned on the second side of the spine, wherein the adjustable portion comprises a passage and a receiver portion, wherein the passage is adapted to receive the transverse portion of the fixed portion, wherein the receiver portion of the adjustable portion is shaped to connect to the second elongated member, wherein the transverse portion and the adjustable portion are configured to securely couple to one another at a location between the first and second incisions, wherein the fixed portion and the adjustable portion are configured such that when connected to each other and to the first and second elongated members, a distance between the first and second elongated members positioned on first and second sides of the spine, respectively, can be less than a length of the fixed portion including the transverse and receiver portions.