OUTRIGGER

The present invention relates to an outrigger for securing a longitudinal spinal rod, preferably a horizontally offset spinal rod, with respect to a bone anchor. The outrigger may include a housing having a first throughbore to receive the bone anchor and a second throughbore to receive the spinal rod, a cam for surrounding the bone anchor, the cam being disposed within the first throughbore, and a collet having a passage for surrounding the spinal rod, the collet being disposed within the second throughbore. The cam may be moveable from a first position to a second position such that, in the first position, the spinal rod and bone anchor are free to move with respect to the housing and in the second position, the spinal rod and collet are secured with respect to the housing. The collet may be moveable between a first configuration to a second configuration such that movement of the cam from the first position to the second position causes the collet to move from the first configuration to the second configuration. The cam preferably may move into contact with the collet when the cam is moved into the second position. The collet preferably may be compressible into the second configuration. The cam may also include an intermediate position wherein in the intermediate position, the spinal rod is free to translate with respect to the housing but is prevented from articulating with respect thereto.