Patent ID: 8690923

Claim:
An apparatus comprising: a first elongated member comprising a distal end and a proximal end, wherein the distal end of the first elongated member is couplable to a first bone portion during use; a second elongated member comprising a distal end and a proximal end, wherein the distal end of the second elongated member is couplable to a second bone portion during use, wherein the proximal end of the second elongated member comprises a surface that is shaped complementary to a surface of the proximal end of the first elongated member; a locking mechanism coupling the proximal end of the first elongated member to the proximal end of the second elongated member, wherein the locking mechanism comprises a body and a securing member, wherein a portion of the securing member comprises a set of external threads and a portion of the body comprises a mating set of internal threads such that, during use, the locking mechanism is adjusted from the unlocked to the locked position by advancing the securing member axially through the internal space of the body via the mating threads, wherein the proximal ends of the first and second elongated members are positioned in the body during use, wherein the securing member engages at least one of the first elongated member, the second elongated member, and the body when the locking mechanism is in a locked position, wherein the body and securing member comprise respective openings defining respective internal spaces, and wherein, during use, at least the respective proximal ends of the first elongated member and the second elongated member are disposed within the internal space of the body and/or the securing member, and wherein the body comprises an opening coupled to the respective opening in the body such that the first elongated member is positionable, during use, in the opening such that the first elongated member is oriented at an angle relative to the second elongated member, wherein the locking mechanism is adjustable from an unlocked position to the locked position such that, when the locking mechanism is in the unlocked position, the first elongated member is angularly movable relative to the second elongated member, the first elongated member is independently rotatable about a first longitudinal axis and a second longitudinal axis, and the second elongated member is independently rotatable about a third longitudinal axis, and when the locking mechanism is in the locked position, the complementary shaped surfaces of the first elongated member and the second elongated member are directly connected and the relative angular position of the first elongated member and the second elongated member is substantially fixed.