Offset vertebral rod connector

A connector to attach a vertebral rod to an anchor comprising:

• a body including a first channel sized to receive the vertebral rod and extending through a first pair of sides of the body and a second channel to receive the anchor and extending through a second pair of sides of the body, a centerline of the first channel being offset from a centerline of the second channel, the body including a first opening that extends through an exterior wall of the body and into the first channel, the body further including an interior space positioned away from the first and second channels and including a plurality of first teeth;
• an elongated set screw including first and second ends and being sized to fit in the first opening to position the second end into the first channel;
• a cradle including a curved first surface, a second surface with a plurality of second teeth, and a contact surface;
• the cradle positioned in the interior space of the body with the first surface facing towards the first channel and the contact surface positioned at an oblique angle relative to a centerline of the first opening;
• the cradle positioned in the body for the contact surface to be contacted by the second end of the set screw when the set screw is in the first opening with the cradle configured to translate away from the first channel and engage the plurality of second teeth on the cradle with the plurality of first teeth on the body.

A connector to attach a vertebral rod to an anchor comprising:

• a body including a first channel sized to receive the vertebral rod and extending in a first direction and a second channel to receive the anchor and extending in a different second direction with a centerline of the first channel being offset from a centerline of the second channel, the body including a first opening spaced away from the second channel that extends into the first channel, the body further including an interior space with a plurality of first teeth that are aligned substantially perpendicular to the centerline of the second channel;
• a set screw with a first end and a second end, the set screw configured to be positioned between a disengaged orientation with the second end spaced away from the first channel and an engaged orientation with the second end in the first channel;
• a cradle positioned in the interior space of the body and including a curved first surface that faces towards the channel, a second surface with a plurality of second teeth, and a contact surface;
• the cradle movable between a first orientation when the set screw is in the disengaged orientation with the plurality of second teeth spaced away from the plurality of first teeth and the contact surface positioned a first distance from the first opening, and a second orientation when the set screw is in the engaged orientation with the plurality of second teeth engaged with the plurality of first teeth and the contact surface positioned a second greater distance from the first opening.

A connector to attach a vertebral rod to an anchor comprising:

• a body including a first channel sized to receive the vertebral rod and extending through opposing first sides and a second channel to receive the anchor and extending through opposing second sides, a centerline of the first channel being offset from a centerline of the second channel, the body further including a first opening positioned away from the opposing first sides and extending into the first channel;
• a window within an interior of the body in communication with the first and second channels;
• a set screw with a head at a first end and a contact surface at a second end, the set screw configured to be positioned in an engaged orientation in the first opening with the contact surface in the first channel to contact the vertebral rod;
• a cradle positioned in the body and including a curved first surface that faces into the first channel and an opposite second surface;
• a piston positioned in the window and including an angled first end positioned in proximity to the first opening and a second end, the piston positioned in the body for the angled first end to be contacted by the contact surface when the set screw is in the engaged orientation to move the piston in the window and position the second surface into the second channel.

A connector to attach a vertebral rod to an anchor comprising:

• a body including:
• a first channel sized to receive the vertebral rod and extending through opposing first sides of the body;
• a second channel offset from the first channel to receive the anchor and extending through opposing second sides of the body;
• an interior wall that separates the first and second channels;
• a first opening extending into the first channel;
• and
• a window that extends through the interior wall and is in communication with the first and second channels;
• a set screw with a head at a first end and a contact surface, the set screw configured to be positioned in one of a disengaged orientation with the contact surface spaced away from the first channel and an engaged orientation positioned in the first opening with the contact surface in the first channel;
• a piston positioned in the window and including a first end and a second end, the piston movable between a first position when the set screw is in the disengaged orientation with the first end spaced away from the set screw and the second end spaced away from the second channel, and a second position when the set screw is in the engaged orientation with the first end in contact with the set screw and the second end positioned in the second channel, the second end of the piston being farther away from the first channel in the second position than in the first position.