TAPER LOCK HOOK

1 . A spinal hook comprising:

a hook member including a head portion and a blade portion;

an inner collet including a base portion configured to rotatably engage the head portion and a pair of engaging portions defining a slot configured to receive a connecting rod therein; and

an outer portion movable relative to the inner collet between a locked position in which the outer portion causes the pair of engaging portions to move toward each other and an unlocked position in which the outer portion causes the pair of engaging portions to be spread apart to facilitate insertion or removal of the connecting rod.

2 . The spinal hook according to claim 1 , further comprising a retaining ring radially deflectable, the retaining ring rotatably coupling the head portion with the base portion, while inhibiting axial movement therebetween.

3 . The spinal hook according to claim 2 , wherein the head portion defines a circumferential groove configured to receive at least a portion of the retaining ring therein.

4 . The spinal hook according to claim 3 , wherein the base portion of the inner collet includes an annular groove configured to receive a portion of the retaining ring disposed in the circumferential groove of the head portion.

5 . The spinal hook according to claim 1 , wherein each of the pair of engaging portions includes a surface configured to engage an inner surface of the outer portion to transition the outer portion between the locked and unlocked positions.

6 . The spinal hook according to claim 5 , wherein the surface is tapered such that in the unlocked position, the surface is spaced apart from the inner surface of the outer portion.

7 . The spinal hook according to claim 1 , wherein the outer portion includes a pin and the inner collet defines a slot configured to slidably engage the pin therein.

8 . The spinal hook according to claim 1 , wherein the inner collet includes a plurality of longitudinal slits configured to enable radial deflection of the inner collet.

9 . A spinal hook comprising:

a hook housing member including a head portion and a blade portion; and

an inner collet slidably associated with the hook housing member, the inner collet including a pair of engaging portions defining a first slot therebetween, the first slot configured to receive a connecting rod therein, wherein the inner collet is transitionable between an unlocked state in which the pair of engaging portions are spaced apart to receive the connecting rod within the first slot and a locked state in which the pair of engaging portions secure the connecting rod within the first slot.

10 . The spinal hook according to claim 9 , wherein the inner collet includes a second slot and the head portion of the hook housing member includes a pin configured to slidably engage the second slot of the inner collet.

11 . The spinal hook according to claim 9 , wherein the inner collet includes a slit extending along a length thereof to facilitate radial deflection of the inner collet.

12 . The spinal hook according to claim 11 , further comprising a retaining member configured to be disposed in a recess defined in the inner collet, whereby the retaining member causes the inner collet to expand radially outward such that a portion of the inner collet is selectively positionable within the head of the hook housing member.

13 . The spinal hook according to claim 9 , wherein the head portion and the blade portion of the hook housing member are monolithically formed.

14 . The spinal hook according to claim 11 , wherein at least a portion of the inner collet is slidably disposed within the head portion of the hook housing member.

15 . The spinal hook according to claim 11 , wherein the slit has an opening leading into the first slot.

16 . The spinal hook according to claim 11 , wherein each of the pair of engaging portions includes a surface configured to engage an inner surface of the head portion to transition the inner collet between the locked and unlocked states.

17 . The spinal hook according to claim 16 , wherein the surface is tapered such that in the unlocked state, the surface is spaced apart from the inner surface of the head portion.