Pivoting joints for spinal implants including designed resistance to motion and methods of use

A connector to connect a vertebral member to a longitudinal member, the connector comprising:

• an anchor comprising a shaft and an anchor head having an outer width;
• a body attached to the anchor and comprising a channel and a cavity aligned along a common axis, the channel sized to receive the longitudinal member;
• a fastener configured to maintain the longitudinal member in the channel;
• and
• a first wear member positionable within the cavity and having a first receiving area sized to accommodate the head of the anchor and having a first width when mounted within the cavity,
• a second wear member positionable within the cavity and having a second receiving area sized to accommodate the head of the anchor and having a second width when mounted within the cavity,
• a first difference between the outer width of the head and the first width of the first wear member being less than a second difference between the outer width of the head and the second width of the second wear member;
• the cavity being isolated from the channel when the fastener maintains the longitudinal member in the channel.

A connector to connect a vertebral member to a longitudinal member, the connector comprising:

• an anchor comprising a shaft and an anchor head;
• a body attached to the anchor and comprising a channel and a cavity aligned along a common axis, the channel sized to receive the longitudinal member;
• a fastener configured to maintain the longitudinal member in the channel, a force applied by the fastener to maintain the longitudinal rod within the channel being isolated from the anchor;
• and
• a wear member contained within the cavity and forming a receiving area to accommodate the head of the anchor;
• and
• an adjuster to adjust a size of the receiving area to control an amount of resistance applied to the head of the anchor when the anchor pivots within the body.

A connector to connect a vertebral member to a longitudinal member, the connector comprising:

• an anchor comprising a shaft and a head;
• a body attached to the anchor and comprising a channel and a cavity aligned along a common axis, the channel sized to receive the longitudinal member;
• a fastener configured to maintain the longitudinal member in the channel, a force applied by the fastener to maintain the longitudinal rod within the channel being isolated from the anchor;
• and
• an adjuster to control an amount of resistance applied to the head of the anchor when the anchor pivots within the body, the adjuster selectably positionable between a first position to apply a first amount of resistance and a second position to apply a second different amount of resistance.

A method of connecting a vertebral member to a longitudinal member, the method comprising the steps of:

• pivotally attaching an anchor to a body by positioning a head of the anchor within a cavity positioned within a body;
• inserting a longitudinal rod into a channel positioned within the body and axially aligned with the cavity;
• applying a force to maintain the longitudinal rod within the channel, the force being isolated from the anchor;
• and
• adjusting the cavity to a first size that applies a first resistance to resist pivoting movement of the anchor relative to the body, and
• adjusting the cavity to a second size that applies a second resistance to resist pivoting movement of the anchor relative to the body.

A method of connecting a vertebral member to a longitudinal member, the method comprising the steps of:

• pivotally attaching an anchor to a body by positioning a head of the anchor within a cavity positioned within a body;
• inserting a longitudinal rod into a channel positioned within the body and axially aligned with the cavity;
• applying a force to maintain the longitudinal rod within the channel, the force being isolated from the anchor;
• and
• positioning an adjuster to a first position thereby adjusting the cavity to a first size that applies a first resistance to resist pivoting movement of the anchor relative to the body, and
• positioning an adjuster to a second position thereby adjusting the cavity to a second size that applies a second resistance to resist pivoting movement of the anchor relative to the body.