Patent ID: 7901433

Claim:
A system for mechanically fixating a region of a skull to a portion of a spine, the system comprising: a plate configured to contact the region of the skull and be secured thereto; a spinal rod configured to extend from a first location adjacent to the plate for connection thereto to a second location adjacent at least one vertebra for connection thereto, the rod and the plate forming an angle Φ with respect to one another about a transverse axis relative to the spine; and a variable connection configured to secure the rod to the plate, the variable connection having: a first mode connecting the rod and the plate and allowing continuous movement of the rod relative to the plate in a range defined by the angle Φ, wherein the angle Φ can be freely varied relative to the plate without requiring deformation of the rod and the plate; and a second mode connecting the rod and the plate wherein the rod and the plate are locked at a particular value of the angle Φ selected to maintain a desired curvature of the spine, wherein the variable connection comprises: a lateral arm integral with the plate and extending laterally along the transverse axis relative to the spine; and a connector comprising a body having a transverse opening configured to receive the arm and a longitudinal opening configured to receive a proximate portion of the rod adjacent the plate, the transverse opening configured to pivot about the transverse axis in the first mode, wherein the body has a lock opening connecting the transverse and longitudinal openings and extending normal to the transverse and longitudinal openings, and wherein the connector further comprises: a clamp plug configured to be received in the lock opening at a location between the transverse and longitudinal openings; and a lock configured to engage the lock opening and the lateral arm, wherein the clamp plug and the lock are configured to operate in the lock opening to allow free rotational and translation movement of the lateral arm and the rod in the transverse and longitudinal openings in the first mode and to clamp the lateral arm, the clamp plug, and the rod against the rotational and translation movements in the second mode.