Patent ID: 8246658

Claim:
A connector assembly for interconnecting first and second implant members, comprising: a connector body extending generally along a rotational axis and including first and second receiver portions axially offset from one another along said rotational axis and including a threaded portion extending axially from said second receiver portion, said first receiver portion defining a first passage therethrough sized to receive a portion of the first implant member therein, said second receiver portion defining a second passage therethrough sized to receive a portion of the second implant member therein; a washer member including a first end, an opposite second end, and an axial passage extending therethrough from said first end to said second end, said second receiver portion of said connector body positioned within said axial passage and movably coupled with said washer member to permit rotational movement of said washer member about said rotational axis and translational movement of said washer member along said rotational axis, said washer member including a channel extending transversely therethrough in communication with said axial passage and generally aligned with said second passage of said connector body; and a lock member threadingly engaged with said threaded portion of said connector body, said lock member including an end surface configured to rotate said lock member about said connector body, wherein threading engagement of said lock member along said threaded portion of said connector body exerts an axial force onto the second implant member positioned within said second passage of said connector body to thereby compress the second implant member within said channel in said washer member when said lock member is rotated about said connector body, said axial force displaces said washer member along said rotational axis and into compressed engagement with the first implant member positioned within said first passage of said connector body to thereby lock said washer member and the second implant member at a select angular orientation relative to said connector body, said axial force also compresses the first implant member into clamped engagement against said first receiver portion of said connector body to thereby lock the first implant member within said first passage of said connector body.