TRANSCONNECTOR FOR COUPLING SPINAL RODS

The present invention is directed to a transconnector (10) for coupling first and second spinal fixation rods or other elongate fixation elements (12; 14). The transconnector (10) includes a male member (16), a female member (18), and a locking member (20). The male member (16) has a body with a linking element (22) (such as a hook) associated with the lateral end for receiving one of the fixation elements (12; 14), and a projection (24) on the medial end. The projection (24) includes a recess (32) defined by lateral and medial walls (34; 36). The female member (18) has a body with a linking element (26) associated with the lateral end for receiving the other fixation element (12; 14), and a cavity (28) with an opening (30) on the medial end for receiving a portion of the male member projection (24). The locking member (20) secures the position and orientation of the male member projection portion in the cavity (28) in order to accommodate different separation distances and orientations between the first and second fixation elements (12; 14). The locking member (20) cooperates with the medial wall of the recess (32) of the projection (24) to prevent uncoupling of the male and female members (16; 18). The male member (16) may be made as a two component assembly in which the two components can rotate relative to one another for accommodating rod convergence or divergence.