Abstract: A spinal implant system for use in immobilizing adjacent vertebral bodies in a minimally invasive manner, including a pair of implants having lengths sufficient so that one of the ends extend outside of a patient's body when the implants are installed. Each implant has a pair of opposed elongated posts which in conjunction with an orthogonally arranged support surface define a transverse opening for receiving a stabilizing rod. A cap having upper and lower surfaces is associated with each implant, each cap and its associated post has means for advancing the cap along the posts toward the support surface to lock a stabilizing rod therebetween. The rod is pivotally coupled to one of the caps so that the rod, when pivoted, will extend between the transverse openings in adjacently installed implants.

Abstract: A spinal fixation plate has inner and outer surfaces through which a pair of adjacent screw holes extend along generally parallel axii. The screw holes accommodate the heads of conventional bone screws while allowing the threaded shafts of the screws to pass therethrough. A recess extends into each screw hole for receiving a V-shaped latch having a pair of wings joined to a head via elastically deformable arms. The latch is moveable between a deployed position in which the wings extend into the screw holes to prevent a screw seated therein from backing out and a retracted position in which the wings arc retracted from the screw holes enabling the screws to be backed out of the plate.

Abstract: A spinal implant system for use in immobilizing adjacent vertebral bodies in a minimally invasive manner, including a pair of implants having lengths {sufficient so that one of the ends extend outside of a patient's body when the implants are installed. Each implant has a pair of opposed elongated posts which in conjunction with an orthogonally arranged support surface define a transverse opening for receiving a stabilizing rod. A cap having upper and lower surfaces is associated with each implant, each cap and it's associated post has means for advancing the cap along the posts toward the support surface to lock a stabilizing rod therebetween. The rod is pivotally coupled to one of the caps so that the rod, when pivoted, will extend between the transverse openings in adjacently installed implants.