Patent ID: 7125193

Claim:
A modular assembly for connecting together first, second and third elements to form an orthopedic component; wherein the first element comprises an elongated member having a circular aperture extending therethrough; the second element comprises a block member provided with a projection extending therefrom; and the third element comprises an elongated rod having a frusto-conically shaped projection at an end thereof; the assembly comprising: a frusto-concially shaped entryway at a first end of the first element elongated member, said entryway forming a first taper and extending to the first element aperture; a first portion of the second element projection having a second taper thereon, and a second portion of the second element projection having a frusto-conically shaped recess in a free end thereof; wherein the second element projection second taper is engageable with the first taper at the first end of the aperture of the first element, and an external wall of the second element projection second portion is cylindrically shaped and is concentrically engageable with an inner wall of the first element aperture; and wherein the third element frusto-conically shaped end is engageable with the second element projection recess; whereby to affix the second element to the first element and the third element to the second element to form the orthopedic component.