Patent ID: 8480712

Claim:
A transverse connector that connects bilateral fixation rods of a spinal fixation system, a first of the bilateral fixations rods being fixed to at least first and second fixation anchors of the spinal fixation system and a second of the bilateral fixation rods being fixed to at least third and fourth fixation anchors of the spinal fixation system, comprising: a linkage assembly including a first link and a second link coupled to the first link, a first clamping member coupled to the first link and having a free end configured to couple to said first fixation rod, and a second clamping member coupled to the second link and having a free end configured to couple to said second fixation rod, said first link being translatable relative to said second link along a first longitudinal axis of the linkage assembly, the first link including a first extension that extends obliquely to the first longitudinal axis and the second link including a second extension that extends obliquely from the first longitudinal axis, wherein the first clamping member is coupled to the first extension such that a second longitudinal axis of the first clamping member is oblique to the first longitudinal axis and wherein the second clamping member is coupled to the second extension such that a third longitudinal axis of the second clamping member is oblique to the first longitudinal axis, the first clamping member being coupled to the first extension via a joint such that the angle of the second longitudinal axis is adjustable relative to the first longitudinal axis and the second clamping member being coupled to the first extension via a second joint such that the angle of the third longitudinal axis is adjustable relative to the first longitudinal axis.