Spinal cross-connector

1. A spinal cross-connector for connecting first and second spinal rods, comprising:

an L-shaped elongate member having a long portion with a first end and a short portion with a second end;

a first connector configured to directly attach with a first pedicle screw, said first connector includes a first collet head configured to receive a first tulip head of the first pedicle screw and accommodate a first spinal rod residing within the first tulip head, a first clamp configured to slidably receive the first end of the L-shaped elongate member, a first locking member tightenable over the first collet head that both locks the first end of the L-shaped elongate member with respect to the first clamp, and locks the first connector to the first tulip head; and

a second connector configured to directly attach with a second pedicle screw, said second connector includes a second collet head configured to receive a second tulip head of the second pedicle screw and a plurality of cutouts to accommodate a second spinal rod residing within the second tulip head, a second clamp configured to rotatably receive the second end of the L-shaped elongate member, a second locking member tightenable over the second collet head that both locks the second end of the L-shaped elongate member with respect to the second clamp, and locks the second connector to the second tulip head.

2. The spinal cross-connector of claim 1 , wherein the long portion of the L-shaped elongate member includes a flat surface.

3. The spinal cross-connector of claim 2 , wherein the short portion of the L-shaped elongate member includes a cylindrical surface.

4. The spinal cross-connector of claim 1 , wherein the long portion of the L-shaped elongate member extends perpendicular to the first and second spinal rods and the short portion of the L-shaped elongate member extends parallel to the first and second spinal rods.

5. The spinal cross-connector of claim 1 , wherein said first collet head includes a recess to receive said first tulip and a plurality of cutouts to accommodate said first spinal rod.

6. The spinal cross-connector of claim 5 , wherein said second collet head includes a recess to receive said second tulip and a plurality of cutouts to accommodate said second spinal rod.

7. The spinal cross-connector of claim 1 , wherein the first locking member is a locknut that threadedly engages a complementary exterior thread on the first collet head.

8. The spinal cross-connector of claim 7 , wherein the second locking member is a locknut that threadedly engages a complementary exterior thread on the second collet head.

9. The spinal cross-connector of claim 1 , wherein the first locking member is a locknut that threadedly engages a complementary exterior thread on the first collet head and the second locking member is a locknut that threadedly engages a complementary exterior thread on the second collet head.

10. The spinal cross-connector of claim 1 , wherein the second clamp is an integral part of the second collet head.

11. The spinal cross-connector of claim 10 , wherein the second clamp includes a collapsible spherical pocket adjacent to a cavity that receives the second tulip head.

12. The spinal cross-connector of claim 11 , wherein the second end of the L-shaped elongate member includes a spherical ball that is received within the collapsible spherical pocket.