Patent Document ID: 8361117
Application ID: 11557699

Base Claim:
1. A spinal cross connector, comprising: a first connector element for engaging a spinal fixation element, the first connector element having a female member; a second connector element for engaging a spinal fixation element, the second connector element having a male member that is receivable within the female member such that the male member is (i) adjustably slidable within the female member along a longitudinal axis of the male member, (ii) rotatable about the longitudinal axis within the female member, and (iii) pivotable within the female member such that the longitudinal axis can be angularly oriented relative to a longitudinal axis of the first connector element; and a fastening element adapted to be disposed within the female member to engage and lock the male member in a fixed position relative to the female member; wherein the male member is disposed through the female member and the male member includes a retaining element on a terminal end thereof that is adapted to prevent removal of the male member from the female member, the retaining element being a discrete element from the male member that is disposed external to the female member when the male member is disposed through the female member.

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Claim 14:
14. The spinal cross connector of claim 1 , wherein the male member is limited to pivoting in a single plane within the female member.