Patent ID: 8636737

Claim:
A system for fixing 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, the plate having a top surface and at least one elongated slot defined therein, the at least one elongated slot having a transverse dimension and the plate having a threaded opening in communication with the at least one elongated slot, the threaded opening having a diameter greater than the transverse dimension; and an adjustable housing having a body portion and a base portion, the body portion having a channel defined therein to receive a spinal rod, the base portion having a first portion extending from the body portion with a first cross dimension that is less than the transverse dimension, the base portion further including a threaded portion with a threaded exterior surface sized to mate with the threaded opening; and the adjustable housing configured to be received in the threaded opening in a first direction and movable into and along the elongated slot in a second direction after the threaded exterior surface is fully threaded through the threaded opening of the plate, wherein the first direction and the second direction are two different directions, wherein the transverse dimension is orthogonal to the first direction; and the channel of the body portion of the adjustable housing is generally U-shaped, the channel open on an end of the body portion opposite the base portion and open on opposing lateral sides of the body portion, the channel of the body portion is structured to be capable of receiving the spinal rod with the spinal rod extending out of the channel on the opposing lateral sides of the body portion.