rod and the upper portion of the fastener a threaded fastener is provided for clamping the rod against the surface of the connector in one embodiment the fastener includes an eyebolt defining an aperture for receiving the spinal rod in another embodiment of the invention the connector includes an elongated plate that defines a slot through which the second portion of the fastener is received this slot includes a plurality of grooves on a surface of the plate facing the rod each of the grooves configured to receive a portion of the rod therein application_number US 57163395 A description referring first to fig1 the spinal implant system 20 constructed in accordance with the present invention is affixed to the lumbar spine generally designated 22 the implant system includes a pair of sacral plates 24 and 26 affixed to the sacrum 28 adjacent the lumbosacral joint a pair of fixation rods 30 and 32 extend in a superior direction on opposite sides of the sagittal plane from the sacral plates posterior to the lumbar vertebrae l 5 l 4 l 3 l 2 and l 1 rods 30 and 32 terminate adjacent the superior portion of vertebra l 1 conventional fasteners 34 and 36 securely affix the rods 30 and 32 respectively to the sacral plates 24 and 26 at the superior end of the rods a pair of offset fixation plates 40 and 42 affix the.