Branch connector for spinal fixation systems

A connector for connecting a first spine rod to a second spine rod comprising:

• a J-shaped lower saddle which includes two channels adapted to receive the first and second spine rods, one in each of the channels, wherein one of the channels wraps partially around one of the rods;
• an upper saddle which includes two channels, one of which is wedge-shaped, to matingly engage the two channels of the lower saddle to thereby grip the rods in a first and second opening formed by the matingly engaged channels;
• and
• means for clamping the upper saddle to the lower saddle independently of a bone screw wherein the clamping means is located between the first and second openings and comprises a bolt having a head, a shaft and a threaded end, the threaded end extending through a first aperture defined by the upper saddle and threading into a second aperture defined by the lower saddle wherein the first aperture of the upper saddle is at least partially threaded to cooperate with the threaded end of the bolt, and the bolt further comprises a neck around the shaft and between the head and the threaded end, wherein the bolt can be preassembled to the upper saddle by threading the upper end of the bolt through that at least partially threaded first aperture.

A connector for connecting a first spine rod to a second spine rod comprising:

• an upper saddle adapted for gripping the two spine rods and having a first aperture which is at least partially threaded;
• a lower saddle adapted to mate with the upper saddle in gripping the two spine rods and having a threaded second aperture wherein the lower saddle is C-shaped and the upper saddle is wedge-shaped so that the bolt clamping means presses the spine rods downwardly and outwardly;
• and
• a bolt comprising a head, a shaft and a threaded end for placing through the first and second apertures to thereby clamp the upper saddle to the lower saddle for gripping the two spine rods, wherein the bolt can be preassembled to the upper saddle by threading the upper end of the bolt through that at least partially threaded first aperture.