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Device for linking adjacent rods in spinal instrumentation

  • US 6,136,003 A
  • Filed: 02/02/2000
  • Issued: 10/24/2000
  • Est. Priority Date: 06/06/1995
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A connector for linking adjacent longitudinal members engaged to a spine, comprising:

  • a pair of engaging members, each of said engaging members including;

    a connecting portion at one end, said connecting portions each being elongated and sized to span at least a portion of the distance between the adjacent longitudinal members,a receptacle configured to receive a longitudinal member when the connector is disposed over the adjacent longitudinal members,a fixation surface adjacent to said receptacle and configured for engaging a longitudinal member thereon, anda first thru-hole defined in said engaging member adjacent to said receptacle for receiving a wedge member, said thru-hole intersecting said receptacle and aligned at an angle relative to said fixation surface such that as the wedge member is advanced through said thru-hole the wedge member will bear against a longitudinal member in said receptacle and push the longitudinal member against said fixation surface to engage the connector to the longitudinal member; and

    a bridge member sized to span at least a portion of the distance between the adjacent longitudinal members and including;

    a pair of bores each for receiving a corresponding one of said connecting portions of said engaging members,a pair of engaging surfaces each adjacent to and contiguous with a respective one of said pair of bores for engaging said connecting portion, anda second thru-hole defined in said bridge member for receiving a wedge member, said second thru-hole intersecting each of said pair of bores such that as the wedge member is advanced through said second thru-hole the wedge member will bear against said connecting portion and push each of said connecting portions against a corresponding one of said engaging surfaces.

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