Patent ID: 8137388

Claim:
A method of stabilizing the spine comprising: implanting first and second spinal rods longitudinally on each side of the spinal column; providing a stabilization device including first and second connectors and a transverse rod, each connector comprising first and second bores, a channel, and a locking member, wherein each locking member is moveable between a withdrawn and an advanced position; placing the first and second connectors on the transverse rod and withdrawing each locking member until the first and second connectors are fixed to the transverse rod to form a connector assembly; placing the connector assembly over the first and second implanted spinal rods so that the first spinal rod is positioned in the channel of the first connector and the second spinal rod is positioned in the channel of the second connector; advancing the locking member of the first connector until the transverse rod is released from the first connector; continuing to advance the locking member of the first connector until the first spinal rod and the transverse rod are fixed to the first connector; advancing the locking member of the second connector until the transverse rod is released from the second connector; and continuing to advance the locking member of the second connector until the second spinal rod and transverse rod are fixed to the second connector.