Patent ID: 8177814

Claim:
A posterior spinal bridge assembly for attachment to a spine having a first vertebrae and a second vertebrae, the posterior spinal bridge assembly comprising: a first posterior spinal bridge element having first and second co-axial arms received in respective first and second posterior vertebral screw assemblies that are affixed posteriorly to opposite sides of the first vertebrae, and an arched section disposed between the first and second co-axial arms, the arched section extending posterior to the first vertebrae when the first posterior spinal bridge element is received in the first and second posterior vertebral screw assemblies and having a first threaded shaft extending therefrom; a second posterior spinal bridge element having first and second co-axial arms received in respective first and second posterior vertebral screw assemblies that are affixed posteriorly to opposite sides of the second vertebrae, and an arched section disposed between the first and second co-axial arms, the arched section extending posterior to the second vertebrae when the second posterior spinal bridge element is received in the first and second posterior vertebral screw assemblies and having a second threaded shaft extending therefrom; and an interconnection element connectable to the first and second posterior spinal bridge elements and allowing dynamic interconnection between adjacent posterior spinal bridge elements, the interconnection element comprising: a caudel end having a circular bore with an inner rim to define a first locking pocket; a cephal end having a first elongated bore with an inner rim to define a second locking pocket, wherein the second locking pocket provides dynamic positional anchoring; a first locking nut received in the first locking pocket and onto the first threaded shaft extending from the first posterior spinal bridge element; a second locking nut received in the second locking pocket and onto the second threaded shaft extending from the second posterior spinal bridge element.