Danek Medical

Chester E Sutterlin

Richard B Ashman

A spinal implant system includes a pair of spinal rods arranged on opposite sides of the spinous processes of a patient. An transverse connector assembly in accordance with the invention includes a plate having a central portion which spans between the spinal rods. At each end of the central portion is an integral body portion having an elongated slot formed therein. An eyebolt extending through the slot and has an opening to receive the spinal rod therethrough to clamp the spinal rod to a respective one of the body portions. At the end of each body portion distal from the central portion is an enlarged end piece having an end face oriented generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the slot in the plate body. A threaded post extends from the end face and is used together with a nut to clamp the yoke portion of the vertebral fixation element to the plate. In another embodiment, an eyebolt assembly is used to mount a vertebral fixation element to an endpiece bar extending from the plate.

Spinal rod transverse connector for supporting vertebral fixation

A variable angle bone screw system for use in a spinal implant system to connect a vertebral fixation element to a spinal rod extending adjacent the vertebral column in a patient. The system includes an eyebolt having a threaded stem, a washer receivable over the stem of the eyebolt, a bone screw including a yoked head to permit top loading of the stem of the eyebolt, and a nut engaging the threaded stem of the eyebolt and cooperating with the eyebolt to clamp the bone screw and washer therebetween. The bone screw head and the washer include interdigitating locking means for restraining the pivoting of the screw about the axis of the eyebolt threaded stem but permitting interlocking in variable angular orientations.

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Gainesville, FL, United States of America

Chester E Sutterlin