Transverse connector

Abstract

A transverse connector for coupling between first and second elongate members of a spinal stabilization system. The transverse connector includes a connector arm, a first coupling assembly proximate a first end of the arm, and a second coupling assembly proximate a second end of the arm. The first and second coupling assemblies are secured to the connector arm through a plurality of mating engagement features, such as dovetail grooves.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A transverse connector for coupling between first and second elongate members of a spinal stabilization system, the transverse connector comprising:
 a connector arm comprising a first end portion, a second end portion and a bridge member extending therebetween, the first end portion including a first through hole extending from a top surface to a bottom surface and the second end portion including a second through hole extending from the top surface to the bottom surface, wherein the connector arm further includes a first lower pair of dovetail grooves extending along the bottom surface adjacent to the first through hole, and a second lower pair of dovetail grooves extending along the bottom surface adjacent to the second through hole;   a first coupling assembly couplable proximate the first end portion of the connector arm, the first coupling assembly comprising:
 a first sleeve including a top sleeve surface, a bottom sleeve surface, a first sleeve aperture extending between the top sleeve surface and the bottom sleeve surface, and a first upper pair of dovetail grooves extending along the top sleeve surface for slidably engaging the first lower pair of dovetail grooves adjacent the first through hole; 
 a first insert extending through the first sleeve aperture and first through hole, the first insert including a first end region and a second end region; and 
 a first locking mechanism coupled to the first insert; 
   a second coupling assembly coupleable proximate the second end portion of the connector arm, the second coupling assembly comprising:
 a second sleeve including a top sleeve surface, a bottom sleeve surface, a second sleeve aperture extending between the top sleeve surface and the bottom sleeve surface, and a second upper pair of dovetail grooves extending along the top sleeve surface for slidably engaging the second lower pair of dovetail grooves adjacent the second through hole; 
 a second insert extending through the second sleeve aperture and second through hole, the second insert including a first end region and a second end region; and 
 a second locking mechanism coupled to the second insert. 
   
     
     
         3 . The transverse connector of  claim 2 , wherein the first insert is rotatable in the first through hole through an angle of less than 360° and the second insert is rotatable in the second through hole through an angle of less than 360°. 
     
     
         4 . The transverse connector of  claim 2 , wherein the first end region of each of the first and second inserts comprises a threaded region. 
     
     
         5 . The transverse connector of  claim 4 , wherein each of the first and second locking mechanisms comprises a threaded through hole and wherein the first and second locking mechanisms are configured to threadably engage the threaded region of the first and second inserts, respectively. 
     
     
         6 . The transverse connector of  claim 5 , wherein rotating either of the first or second locking mechanisms in a first direction raises the corresponding insert into the aperture of corresponding first or second sleeves. 
     
     
         7 . The transverse connector of  claim 5 , wherein rotating either of the first or second locking mechanisms in a second direction, opposite the first direction, lowers the corresponding insert out of the aperture of corresponding first or second sleeves. 
     
     
         8 . The transverse connector of  claim 2 , wherein the connector arm further comprises a first upper pair of dovetail grooves extending along the upper surface adjacent to the first through hole, and a second upper pair of dovetail grooves extending along the upper surface adjacent to the second through hole. 
     
     
         9 . The transverse connector of  claim 8 , wherein the first locking mechanism further comprises a dovetail groove extending around a perimeter of a lower portion thereof that is slidably engageable with the first upper pair of dovetail grooves adjacent the first through hole and the second locking mechanism further comprises a dovetail groove extending around a perimeter of a lower portion thereof that is slidably engageable with the second upper pair of dovetail grooves adjacent the second through hole. 
     
     
         10 . The transverse connector of  claim 2 , wherein the second end region of each of the first and second inserts comprises two deflectable arms. 
     
     
         11 . The transverse connector of  claim 10 , wherein the deflectable arms of each of the first and second inserts are configured to engage an elongate member of a spinal stabilization system. 
     
     
         12 . A transverse connector for coupling between first and second elongate members of a spinal stabilization system, the transverse connector comprising:
 a connector arm comprising a first end portion, a second end portion and a bridge member extending therebetween along a longitudinal axis, the first end portion including a first through hole extending from a top surface to a bottom surface and the second end portion including a second through hole extending from a top surface to a bottom surface, wherein the connector arm further includes a first engagement feature adjacent to the first through hole, and a second engagement feature adjacent to the second through hole;   a first coupling assembly coupleable proximate the first end portion of the connector arm, the first coupling assembly comprising:
 a first sleeve including a top sleeve surface, a bottom sleeve surface, and a first sleeve aperture extending between the top sleeve surface and the bottom sleeve surface; 
 a first insert extending through the first sleeve aperture and first through hole, the first insert including a first end region and a second end region; and 
 a first locking mechanism including a mating engagement feature disposed on a lower portion thereof that slidably engages the first engagement feature of the connector arm; 
   a second coupling assembly coupleable proximate the second end portion of the connector arm, the second coupling assembly comprising:
 a second sleeve including a top sleeve surface, a bottom sleeve surface, and a second sleeve aperture extending between the top sleeve surface and the bottom sleeve surface; 
 a second insert including a first end region and a second end region, the second insert movably disposed within the aperture of the second sleeve; and 
 a second locking mechanism including a mating engagement feature disposed on a lower portion thereof that slidably engages the second engagement feature of the connector arm. 
   
     
     
         13 . The transverse connector of  claim 10 , wherein the first engagement feature of the connector arm comprises a first upper pair of dovetail grooves extending along the top surface of the connector arm and the second engagement feature of the connector arm comprises a second upper pair of dovetail grooves extending along the top surface of the connector arm. 
     
     
         14 . The transverse connector of  claim 13 , wherein the mating engagement feature of each of the first locking mechanism and the second locking mechanism further comprises a dovetail groove extending around a perimeter of a lower portion thereof. 
     
     
         15 . The transverse connector of  claim 12 , wherein the connector arm further comprises a first lower pair of dovetail grooves extending along the lower surface adjacent to the first through hole, and a second lower pair of dovetail grooves extending along the lower surface adjacent to the second through hole. 
     
     
         16 . The transverse connector of  claim 15 , wherein the first sleeve further comprises a first upper pair of dovetail grooves extending along the top surface for slidably engaging the first lower pair of dovetail grooves adjacent the first through hole and the second sleeve further comprises a second upper pair of dovetail grooves extending along the top surface for slidably engaging the second lower pair of dovetail grooves adjacent the second through hole. 
     
     
         17 . The transverse connector of  claim 12 , wherein the first locking mechanism slidably engages the first engagement feature in a direction generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the connector arm and the second locking mechanism slidably engages the second engagement feature in a direction generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the connector arm. 
     
     
         18 . The transverse connector of  claim 12 , wherein the first end region of each of the first and second inserts comprises a threaded region. 
     
     
         19 . The transverse connector of  claim 18 , wherein each of the first and second locking mechanisms comprises a threaded through hole and wherein the first and second locking mechanisms are configured to threadably engage the threaded region of the first and second inserts, respectively. 
     
     
         20 . The transverse connector of  claim 19 , wherein rotating either of the first or second locking mechanisms in a first direction raises the corresponding insert into the aperture of corresponding first or second sleeves. 
     
     
         21 . The spinal stabilization system of  claim 12 , wherein the first insert is rotatable in the first through hole through an angle of less than 360° and the second insert is rotatable in the second through hole through an angle of less than 360°.