Patent ID: 7175622

Claim:
A spinal rod system, comprising: a first elongated rod extending along a longitudinal axis between a first end and an opposite second end, said first end including a first coupling body having an externally threaded surface profile and a non-threaded first contact surface along at least one side thereof; a second elongated rod extending along a longitudinal axis between a first end and an opposite second end, said first end including a second coupling body having an externally threaded surface profile and a non-threaded second contact surface along at least one side thereof; and a coupling mechanism including a coupling member having at least a first bore for threadingly receiving said first and second coupling bodies of said first and second rods in end-to-end fashion with said contact surfaces of said coupling bodies aligned with respective ones of first and second trans-axial bores extending through said coupling member in communication with at least said first bore, said first and second trans-axial bores receiving respective ones of first and second engaging members positionable in contact with respective ones of said first and second contact surfaces to maintain said first and second rods in position relative to said coupling member with said first rod extending in a first direction from said coupling member and said second rod extending in a second direction from said coupling member that is opposite said first direction.