Spinal connectors and related methods

A spinal connector, comprising:

• a clamp having first and second arms configured to grasp a spinal fixation element, at least a portion of the first and second arms defining a stud portion;
• a spinal fixation element having a mating feature that defines an opening through which the stud portion of the clamp extends;
• and
• a locking element configured to engage the stud portion to selectively move the first and second arms toward one another and to lock rotation of the stud portion about a longitudinal axis of the opening and about a transverse axis of the opening.

A spinal connector, comprising:

• a first elongate rod having a first section that is parallel to and offset from a second section, the first and second sections being joined by a transition section;
• a ring-shaped mating feature extending from the first section of the rod;
• a clamp having first and second clamping arms that define a recess therebetween in which a second elongate rod can be received, the clamp having a stud portion that extends through a central opening of the ring-shaped mating feature such that the mating feature bears against a shoulder of the stud portion and such that the stud portion is rotatable about a longitudinal axis of the central opening and about a transverse axis of the central opening;
• a washer disposed over the stud portion;
• and
• a locking nut threadably-engaged with the stud portion such that the washer is disposed between the locking nut and the mating feature and such that the mating feature is disposed between the washer and the shoulder;
• wherein tightening the locking nut is effective to lock rotation of the stud portion about the longitudinal and transverse axes of the central opening and to squeeze the first and second clamping arms together to lock the clamp to a second elongate rod disposed in the recess.

A spinal connector, comprising:

• a first clamping member that defines a recess configured to receive a first spinal fixation element;
• a second clamping member that defines a recess configured to receive a second spinal fixation element;
• and
• a locking element that extends through openings formed in the first and second clamping members, the locking element being configured to selectively lock the first clamping member to the first spinal fixation rod, lock the second clamping member to the second spinal fixation rod, and lock one or more degrees of freedom between the first and second clamping members.

A spinal fixation method, comprising:

• forming a first minimally-invasive pathway to access a first vertebra;
• delivering a screw through the first minimally-invasive pathway;
• implanting the screw in the first vertebra;
• forming a second minimally-invasive pathway to access a first spinal fixation element coupled to at least one other vertebra;
• delivering a second spinal fixation element and a spinal connector coupled thereto through the second minimally-invasive pathway;
• moving the spinal connector relative to the second spinal fixation element about one or more degrees of freedom to position at least a portion of the second spinal fixation element in engagement with the screw;
• and
• actuating a locking element of the spinal connector to lock the spinal connector to the first spinal fixation element and to lock the one or more degrees of freedom.

A spinal fixation method, comprising:

• forming a first minimally-invasive pathway to access a first vertebra;
• delivering a screw through the first minimally-invasive pathway;
• implanting the screw in the first vertebra;
• forming a second minimally-invasive pathway to access a first spinal fixation element coupled to at least one other vertebra;
• delivering a second spinal fixation element through the first minimally-invasive pathway to position a portion of the second spinal fixation element in the second minimally-invasive pathway;
• inserting a spinal connector through the second minimally-invasive pathway and coupling the spinal connector to the first and second spinal fixation elements;
• and
• securing the second spinal fixation element to the screw.