US Patent 7780704 Spinal cross-connector

An assembly and a method of locking a longitudinal member to a cross-connector assembly construct, wherein the assembly comprises a longitudinal member; a flexible clip contacting the longitudinal member; a housing component contacting the flexible clip; a locking mechanism contacting the housing component; and a connecting member contacting the housing component. The flexible clip comprises a flexible bias member adapted to retain the longitudinal member. The flexible clip comprises a socket portion; and a clip portion attached to the socket portion, the clip portion being adapted to retain the longitudinal member, wherein the flexible bias member extends from the clip portion to a bottom region of the socket portion.