A system and method for stabilizing a spine of an animal subject involving a transverse rod installation instrument assembly for inserting a transverse rod on the spine of a subject percutaneously comprising: a first rod clamp extender mounted on a ipsilateral rod clamp and a second rod clamp extender mounted on a contralateral rod clamp wherein the ipsilateral rod clamp and the contralateral rod clamp are secured to a vertebra at the ipsilateral and contralateral pedicle; and a pivoting installation instrument pivotably mounted to the first rod clamp extender and the second rod clamp extender to pass a transverse rod percutaneously through a head portion of the ipsilateral side rod clamp and to the head portion of the contralateral rod clamp after passing through a spinous process of the vertebra through pivot axis “A” such that the transverse rod is secured at the head portion of the ipsilateral rod clamp and the head portion of the contralateral rod clamp.

A medical cross connector, a corresponding matching torque wrench, and a corresponding medical product set that includes the medical cross connector in combination with at least one bone implant and/or other matching surgical accessory. The medical cross connector includes a cross strut for connecting two longitudinal rods that can be brought into operative engagement for orientation of vertebrae of a spinal column, and at least one clamping head mounted pivotably on the cross strut in an angular bearing. The clamping head has a rod receptacle and a clamping screw. A clamping tooth applies a clamping force to one of the longitudinal rods when the rod is inserted into the rod receptacle. The clamping tooth is mounted pivotably about a pivot axis via a floating bearing. The floating bearing permits a pivoting movement and a lateral movement of the pivot axis of the clamping tooth.

A clamp device includes multiple claws for collectively gripping a vertebra, particularly over a pars interarticularis. At least one of the claws is movable relative to a body of the clamp device. The movable claw includes an elongate tab received within a track extending within the body. The body or the tab includes a threaded hole within which set screws may be received for immobilizing the movable claw relative to the body. The clamp device also includes an array of rod clamps. The rod clamps are supported by the body, and more directly by a bar supported by the body. The bar is releasably connectable to the body, and the rod clamps are pivotably connectable to the bar.

A system is utilized, which comprises a cross connector for use in spinal fixation, further comprising multiple connection features configured to accommodate for direct attachment to multiple rods. Teachings are directed to a device that not only provides increased construct stiffness in flexion, extension and lateral bending, but also in torsion. The system adds stiffness in standard constructs. Joining multiple adjacent constructs with varying rod sizes for load distribution are also benefits of the system.

A pivoting rod connector for spinal stabilization members comprises first and second connector blocks, each comprising a rod slot for receiving a stabilization member and a closure bore for receiving a closure device, a pivot mechanism connecting the first connector block and the second connector block to allow for angulation between the rod slots, and a locking mechanism to inhibit angulation of the pivot mechanism. Methods of connecting stabilization members in a spinal procedure can comprise adjusting of the angular positioning of the first connector block relative to the second connector block via the pivot mechanism, and locking a position of the first connector body relative to the second connector block following adjustment. The positioning of the connector blocks relative to the spine of the patient are adjustable when the stabilization members are coupled to the spine and inserted into the connector blocks.

A crosslink is provided for securing orthopedic implants, such as facet joint replacement implants, together. The crosslink has a pair of implant coupling components, a pair of rod coupling components, a rod, and a pair of fasteners. Each facet joint implant may include a semicylindrical interface received in a resilient member of the corresponding implant coupling component to permit relative cephalad/caudal adjustment between the crosslink and the implants. The resilient members grip the semicylindrical interface of the implant to enable at least temporary attachment of the implant coupling components to the implants independently of the rod. Clocking features on the semicylindrical interfaces and on the interfacing areas of the implant coupling components and rod coupling components may limit assembly of the crosslink to discrete relative orientations and prevent play after assembly. The fasteners secure the rod coupling components to the rod at the desired positions along the rod.

Embodiments of the present invention are directed toward a system of apparatuses to correct spinal deformities along with associated surgical techniques. The apparatuses comprise passages or channels in which spinal rods of differing diameters may be secured to allow a surgeon to vary the diameter of rods used along the length of the spine. Additionally, embodiments of the present invention are directed toward instrumentation for reduction of spinal rods into spinal pedicle screws.

Disclosed herein are an orthopedic rod-to-rod connector and rod-to-rod connector assemblies for spinal fusion surgery. The rod-to-rod connector may include a first connector portion and a second connector portion. The first connector portion may have a first aperture configured to receive at least a portion of a bone-engaging screw and a first spinal rod. The second connector portion may be rotatably connected with the first connector portion and may include a second aperture to receive a second spinal rod. The second connector portion may be L-shaped and may include a set screw to control rotation of the first connector portion with respect to the second connector portion.

A bone fixation system comprises a first fastener configured to anchor into a first vertebrae, a second fastener configured to anchor into a second vertebrae, and a set screw to retain the second fastener to the first fastener. The first fastener includes a shaft extending along a longitudinal axis and a head. The shaft includes a first cylindrical body. The head of the first fastener includes a second cylindrical body defining a passageway having an interior surface. The passageway defines a longitudinal axis that is different than the longitudinal axis of the shaft. The first cylindrical body of the shaft and the second cylindrical body of the head are angled relative to each other. A head of the second fastener is configured to engage the interior surface of the passageway of the head of the first fastener. The set screw retains the head of the second fastener in the passageway.

Methods of correcting a spinal deformity, including securing a first rod on a first side of a spine, securing an anchor on a second side of a spine, securing a lateral coupling between the rod and the anchor, translating and derotating the spine to correct the spinal deformity by adjusting an effective length of the lateral coupling, and securing a second rod on a second side of the spine to provide secondary stabilization to the spine.