Mis cross-connector

Abstract

A bone fixation system for implanting in bone, the system comprising a plurality of bone fastener assemblies that attach to bone, a pair of elongate members that attach to the plurality of bone fastener assemblies, a connector member that contacts the pair of elongate members, and a plurality of locking caps that secure the connector member and the elongate members to the plurality of bone fastener assemblies, wherein at least one of the plurality of locking caps comprises a cap portion and a hook portion, where the cap portion is adapted to rotate while the hook portion is stationary.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A minimally invasive method for cross connecting an existing rod construct having first and second rods attached to the vertebral bodies, the method comprising:
 providing an elongate inserter having a clamp at its distal end;   attaching a first crosslink connector to the elongate inserter using the clamp, the first crosslink connector having a body and a hook extending from the body;   coupling the hook of the attached first crosslink connector to the first rod;   attaching a second crosslink connector to an elongate inserter, the second crosslink connector having a body and a hook extending from the body;   coupling the hook of the attached second crosslink connector to the second rod;   connecting a crosslink rod transverse to the first and second rods through the coupled first and second crosslink connectors;   securing the crosslink rod to the connected first and second crosslink connector members via respective locking caps.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the inserter includes an outer sleeve and the clamp includes a sliding pair of extensions and the step of attaching a first crosslink connector includes:
 grabbing the body of the first crosslink connector with the pair of extensions; and   sliding the extensions proximally inside the outer sleeve so that the extensions compress the body of the first crosslink connector.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the inserter includes an outer sleeve and the clamp includes a spring clamp having a sliding pair of extensions. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the inserter includes a handle and an outer sleeve extending from the handle, and the clamp includes a sliding pair of extensions and the step of attaching a first crosslink connector includes:
 rotating the handle in a first direction to slide the extensions proximally while the extensions are grabbing the head of the first crosslink connector.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising detaching the first crosslink connector from the clamp by rotating the handle in a second direction opposite from the first direction to slide the extensions distally. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the body of the first crosslink connector includes a rod channel defining a first longitudinal axis and the hook is adapted to grab the first rod and defines a second longitudinal axis lateral to the first longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the body of the first crosslink connector includes a pair of upwardly extending extenders that define the rod channel. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 creating a minimally invasive surgical opening prior to coupling the hook of the attached first crosslink connector to the first rod; and   inserting the inserter through the created surgical opening.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the inserter includes an outer sleeve and the clamp includes a sliding pair of extensions and the step of securing the crosslink rod includes inserting a locking cap through a through hole of the outer sleeve while the inserter is attached to the body of the first crosslink connector. 
     
     
         10 . A minimally invasive method for cross connecting an existing rod construct having first and second rods attached to the vertebral bodies, the method comprising:
 providing an elongate inserter having an outer sleeve and a clamp having a sliding pair of extensions and being received in the outer sleeve;   attaching a first crosslink connector to the elongate inserter by using the clamp, the first crosslink connector having a body and a hook extending from the body, wherein the body of the first crosslink connector is attached to the extensions and the extensions with the attached body are slid proximally to securely attach the first crosslink connector to the inserter;   creating a minimally invasive surgical opening;   inserting the inserter through the created surgical opening;   after the step of inserting, coupling the hook of the attached first crosslink connector to the first rod;   attaching a second crosslink connector to an elongate inserter, the second crosslink connector having a body and a hook extending from the body;   coupling the hook of the attached second crosslink connector to the second rod;   connecting a crosslink rod transverse to the first and second rods through the coupled first and second crosslink connectors;   securing the crosslink rod to the connected first and second crosslink connector members via respective locking caps.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the inserter includes an outer sleeve and the clamp includes a spring clamp adapted to grab the head of the first crosslink connector. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the inserter includes a rotatable handle coupled to the outer sleeve and the step of attaching a first crosslink connector includes rotating the handle in a first direction to slide the extensions proximally while the extensions are grabbing the head of the first crosslink connector. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising detaching the first crosslink connector from the clamp by rotating the handle in a second direction opposite from the first direction to slide the extensions distally. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the body of the first crosslink connector includes a rod channel defining a first longitudinal axis and the hook is adapted to grab the first rod and defines a second longitudinal axis lateral to the first longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the body of the first crosslink connector includes a pair of upwardly extending extenders that define the rod channel. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the step of securing the crosslink rod includes inserting the locking cap through a through hole of the outer sleeve while the inserter is attached to the body of the first crosslink connector.