Patent ID: 8475499

Claim:
A connector for connecting a first spinal rod to a second spinal rod, the connector comprising: a body having a first end and a second end spaced apart from the first end, the first end of the body having a first rod opening formed therein for receiving the first spinal rod, the second end having a second rod opening formed therein for receiving the second rod, the body having a passage extending between the first opening and the second opening, the body having a first plurality of spaced apart adjustment openings oriented on a common axis along the length of the body between the first end and the second end, the first plurality of adjustment openings communicating with the passage, the body having a second plurality of spaced apart adjustment openings oriented on a common axis along the length of the body between the first end and the second end, the second plurality of adjustment openings communicating with the passage, the body having a first closure mechanism receiving opening positioned proximate the first end and intersecting the passage and a second closure mechanism receiving opening positioned proximate the second end and intersecting the passage, the first closure mechanism receiving opening and the second closure mechanism receiving opening each including an internal thread, the first closure mechanism receiving opening and second closure mechanism receiving opening oriented in a first plane, the first plurality of adjustment openings oriented in a second plane, the second plurality of adjustment openings oriented in a third plane, the second plane and the third plane oriented at an angle greater than 0 degrees to each other and to the first plane, a first set screw having an external thread engageable with the internal thread of the first closure mechanism receiving opening, at least a portion of the first set screw being deliverable through the first closure mechanism receiving opening into the passage, and a second set screw having an external thread engageable with the internal thread of the second closure mechanism receiving opening, at least a portion of the second set screw being deliverable through the second closure mechanism receiving opening into the passage.