Patent ID: 7901434

Claim:
A vertebral rod assembly comprising: a first member having a first base and a first vertebral rod extending in a first direction from the first base; an extension extending outward from the first base in a second direction; a second member having a second base and a second vertebral rod extending from the second base; a receiving section formed within the second base and including a first opening sized to receive the extension that extends from the first base, the receiving section further including a second opening through a sidewall of the receiving section, each of the first and second openings extending into the receiving section and being spaced apart from one another; a ring sized to be disposed within the receiving section, the ring including an exterior wall that forms a central cavity sized to receive the extension, the ring also including a third opening that extends through the exterior wall and leads into the central cavity; and a fastener extending through the second opening in the receiving section and the third opening in the ring to lock the second base to the first base to prevent relative movement between the first and second vertebral rods.