Spinal transverse connector

Claim 2

A coupler according to claim 1 wherein said transverse connector insert (16) includes a substantially U-shaped portion including a substantially arcuate inner surface defining said rod seat means (28) and a connector portion (44) extending therefrom, said transverse connector body (12,14) including an opening (52) extending through said insert seat means, said locking means including a nut member (54,56) engaging a distal end of said connector portion (44) as said substantially U-shaped portion is seated and compressed within said insert seat means (28) and said connector portion (44) extends through said opening (52), said nut member (54) engaging and locking said transverse connector insert (16) within said insert seat means (24); said connector portion (44) preferably including an outer threaded surface and said nut member (54) preferably including an inner threaded surface (56) for threadedly engaging onto said outer threaded surface of said connector portion (44), said nut member (54) preferably comprising a neck portion (58) including said internal threaded portion (56) and a radially outwardly extending flange portion (60) at a distal end thereof, said opening (52) of said transverse connection body (12) seating said neck portion (58) therein when said nut member (54) threadedly engages said connector portion (44), said flange (60) providing a stop engaging an outer surface of said transverse connector body (12).

Claim 3

A coupler according to claim 2, wherein said connector portion (44) includes a threaded internal passageway, said nut member (54) including a stud portion extending therefrom and having an externally threaded surface for mating threaded engagement with said threaded internal passageway.

Claim 4

A coupler according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein said insert seat (24) includes a pair of spaced side walls (48,50) and a base surface (46) interconnecting said side walls (48,50) said walls (48,50) tapering away from each other as said side walls (48,50) extend from said base surface (46); and/or wherein said transverse connector insert (16,18) includes a pair of arms (32,34) defining a rod seat axis therebetween along which a rod (20) is seated said rod seat means (28) including a groove (42) extending between said arms (32,24) and parallel to said rod seat axis.

Claim 5

A coupler according to any preceding claim, including a pair of transverse connector bodies (12,14) and interconnecting means for interconnecting said pair of transverse connector bodies (12,14), said interconnecting means preferably comprising length locking means for locking said transverse connector bodies (12,14) at a predetermined one of a plurality of distances apart along axis (62) defined by said length locking means and rotation locking means for preventing relative rotation about said axis between said transverse connector bodies (12,14), said length locking means preferably including a first position of said transverse connector bodies (12,14) relative to each other allowing distance adjustment between said transverse connector bodies (12,14) axially along said axis (62) and a second position in which said transverse connector bodies (12,14) are rotated about said axis (62) into a locked condition said rotation locking means including a locking member (84) in one of said transverse connection bodies, or selectively engaging the other of said transverse connector bodies in said second position.

Claim 6

A coupler according to claim 5, wherein said length locking means includes a male portion (64) extending from one of said transverse connector bodies (14) and a female portion (66) within the other of said transverse body portions (12), said locking means including a pair of threaded portions (68,70)on said male portion (64) separated by flat portions (72,74) and said female portion (66) including threaded portions (76,78) and flat portions (80,82) symmetric with said threaded and flat portions (68,70,72,74) of said male portion (64), said flat portions (80,82) of said female portion (66) being recessed for allowing sliding mating seating of said male portion (64) into said female portion (66) without engagement of said threaded male portions (68,70) with said flat portions (80,82) of said female portion (66), said threaded portions (76,78) of said female portion (68) being spaced for threaded engagement with said threaded male portions (68,70) so that rotation of said male portion (64) relative to said female portion (66) engages and disengages said threaded portions; said female portion preferably including a set screw (84) extending into at least one of said flat portions (82) thereof for engaging a flat surface (72) of said male portion (64) preventing rotation thereof and fixing said threaded male portion (64) in threaded engagement with said threaded female portions (76,78) thereby fixing and locking the distance between said transverse connector bodies (12,14).

Claim 7

A transverse connector (10) comprising: a pair of transverse connector bodies (12,14) including connector means (16,18) for connecting a rod (20,22) to each of said transverse connector bodies (12,14); interconnecting means for interconnecting said pair of transverse connector bodies (12,14) along an axis (62) defined by said interconnection means; length locking means for locking said transverse connector bodies (12,14) at a predetermined one of a plurality of distances apart along axis (62) defined by said length locking means; and rotation locking means for preventing relative rotation about said axis between said transverse connector bodies (12,14).

Claim 8

A transverse connector (10) according to claim 7, wherein said length locking means includes a first position of said transverse connector bodies (12,14) relative to each other allowing distance adjustment between said transverse connector bodies (12,14) axially along said axis (62) and a second position in which said transverse connector bodies (12,14) are rotated about said axis (62) into a locked condition said rotation locking means including a locking member (84) in one of said transverse connector bodies for selectively engaging the other of said transverse connector bodies in said second position.

Claim 9

A transverse connector according to claim 7 or claim 8, wherein said length locking means includes a male portion (64) extending from one of said transverse connector bodes (14) and a female portion (66) within the other of said transverse body portions (12), said locking means including a pair of threaded portions (68,70) on said male portion (64) separated by flat portions (72,74) and said female portion (66) including threaded portions (76,78) and flat portions (80,82) symmetric with said threaded and flat portions (68,70,72,74) of said male portion (64), said flat portions (80,82) of said female portion (66) being recessed for allowing sliding mating seating of said male portion (64) into said female portion (66) without engagement of said threaded male portions (68,70) with said flat portions (80,82) of said female portion (66), said threaded portions (76,78) of said female portion (68) being spaced for threaded engagement with said threaded male portions (68,70) so that rotation of said male portion (64) relative to said female portion (66) engages and disengages said threaded portions.

Claim 10

A transverse connector (10) according to claim 9, wherein said female portion includes a set screw (84) extending into at least one of said flat portions (82) thereof for engaging a flat surface (72) of said male portion (64) preventing rotation thereof and fixing said threaded male portion (64) in threaded engagement with said threaded female portions (76,78) thereby fixing and locking the distance between said transverse connector bodies (12,14).