Posterior Cervical Cross Connector Assemblies

A spinal assembly for installing a spinal cross connector head onto a spinal rod bone screw assembly, the spinal assembly comprising:

• a combination collar and cross connector head joined to the collar at a first minimum cross section area whereby application of a first torque limit separates the cross connector head from the collar, the collar configured to fix an orientation of a spinal rod bone screw head of the spinal rod bone screw assembly, and the cross connector head configured for attachment to the spinal rod bone screw head;
• a combination set screw, retention pivot and driver section joined to the retention pivot at a second minimum cross section area whereby application of a second torque limit separates the driver section from the retention pivot, the set screw configured to fix a spinal rod within the spinal rod bone screw assembly, the retention pivot configured to pivotally retaining the cross connector head relative to the retention pivot for pivotally retaining the cross connector head relative to the collar, and the driver section configured to install the second portion;
• and
• a driver portion configured to releasably couple with the combination collar and cross connector head and the combination set screw, retention pivot and driver section, and to provide application of the first and second torque limits whereby the combination collar and cross connector head and the combination set screw, retention pivot and driver sections are installed onto the spinal rod bone screw assembly.

A cross connector head assembly for use with a spinal rod bone screw assembly, the cross connector head assembly comprising:

• a collar for fixing orientation of a spinal rod bone screw head relative to a bone screw of the spinal rod bone screw assembly;
• a cross connector head for the spinal rod bone screw assembly, the cross connector head joined to the collar at a minimum cross section area whereby application of a torque limit separates the cross connector head from the collar;
• and
• a combination set screw and retention pivot, the set screw configured to fix a spinal rod within the spinal rod bone screw assembly and the retention pivot configured to pivotally retaining the cross connector head relative to the retention pivot for pivotally retaining the cross connector head relative to the collar.