Patent ID: 8167917

Claim:
A posterior spine fixation assembly comprising: a first elongated plate having first and second ends; a second elongated plate having first and second ends, wherein the first and second elongated plates are arranged in an X-shaped configuration and are attached to each other via a first screw, and wherein the first and second elongated plates comprise first through-bores for receiving the first screw; a first elongated rod having a first end configured to be removable attached to the second end of the first elongated plate; a second elongated rod having a first end configured to be removable attached to the second end of the second elongate plate; wherein said first and second elongated rods extend along a direction in the plane of the X-shaped configuration; wherein the assembly is attached to a first spine location with the first screw; wherein the distance between the first and second elongated rods is adjusted by rotating said first elongated plate relative to said second elongated plate around an axis passing through the first screw; wherein the first and second elongated plates further comprise second oval shaped through-bores and a second screw is configured to pass through the oval shaped through-bores and to attach the first and second elongated plates to each other and to a second spine location after the distance between the first and second elongated rods has been adjusted; and wherein the oval shaped through-bores and the second screw form a sliding hinge that limits the range of the rotational motion of the elongated plates.