Occipito-cervical fixation assembly and method for constructing same

An implantable orthopedic assembly comprising:

• an occipital plate comprising a top surface and a bottom surface, the bottom surface of the occipital plate adapted for securing to an occiput;
• at least one rail extending laterally from a proximal portion of the occipital plate, the at least one rail comprising a top surface and a bottom surface, the bottom surface of the rail comprising a frictional surface;
• and
• at least one repositionable clamping assembly adapted to enclose a portion of the at least one rail, the clamping assembly further adapted for securing a portion of a stabilizing rod at a distance from the frictional surface of the at least one rail, the clamping assembly comprising:
• a base component comprising a frictional surface, the frictional surface of the base component adapted to contact the frictional surface of the at least one rail, the base component further adapted for lateral repositioning between a first rail position and a second rail position;
• a body component adapted to be rigidly coupled to the base component, the body component further adapted for repositioning between a first rotational position and a second rotational position, the body component further adapted to receive the portion of the stabilizing rod;
• and
• a locking component adapted to contact the body component when the body component is in contact with the top surface of the at least one rail, and is also in contact with the received portion of the stabilizing rod, the locking component adapted to transfer an immobilizing force from the received portion of the stabilizing rod to the top surface of the at least one rail, the immobilizing force immobilizing the clamping assembly at a fixed rail position and in a fixed rotational position.