Patent ID: 8021400

Claim:
A spinal transconnector device for coupling longitudinal spinal rods on either side of the mid-sagittal plane, comprising: a first rod engagement element, comprising a convex spherical element; and a second rod engagement element, comprising: a passage for receiving the convex spherical element, at least a portion of the passage having a first concave spherical surface geometry that can mate with at least a portion of the convex spherical element; a first interference element comprising a second concave spherical surface geometry, wherein the convex spherical element articulates within the passage and is sandwiched between the first concave spherical surface of the passage and the second concave spherical surface of the first interference element; and a second interference element having a segment of its surface in the form of a truncated cone, wherein advancement of the second interference element into a bore in the second rod engagement element approximates the second concave spherical surface toward the first concave spherical surface.