Posterior cervical fixation system

A cross-connector for providing stability to first and second elongated spinal rods, comprising:

• a cross bar having a first end and a second end, said first end having a first ball spring collar coupled thereto and said second end a second ball spring collar coupled thereto, the first and second ball spring collars each having a spherical outer surface and an inner surface that slideably engages an exterior surface of the cross bar;
• a first connector configured to directly attach with a first polyaxial screw while accommodating a first spinal rod coupled to the first polyaxial screw, said first connector includes a first collet head having a recess to receive an anchor head of said polyaxial screw and a plurality of cutouts to accommodate said first elongated spinal rod, a first clamp having a first spherical pocket to hold said first ball spring collar of said cross bar;
• a second connector configured to directly attach with a second polyaxial screw while accommodating a second spinal rod coupled to the second polyaxial screw, said second connector includes a second collet head having a recess to receive an anchor head of said second polyaxial screw and a plurality of cutouts to accommodate said second elongated spinal rod, a second clamp having a second spherical pocket to hold said second ball spring collar of said cross bar, wherein the first ball spring collar is rotatable within the spherical pocket of the first clamp and the second ball spring collar is rotatable within the spherical pocket of the second clamp such that the angular orientation of the cross is adjustable relative to the first and second clamps;
• and
• first and second locking members, the first locking member coupling with the first connector to engage the first clamp, compressing the first ball spring collar within the spherical pocket and against the exterior surface of the cross bar to inhibit the angular and slidable adjustability of the cross bar relative to the first clamps, the second locking member coupling with the second connector to engage the to engage the second clamp, compressing the second ball spring collar within the spherical pocket and against the exterior surface of the cross bar to inhibit the angular and slidable adjustability of the cross bar relative to the second clamp.