This application describes surgical instruments and implants, including a rod reduction instrument, for building a posterior fixation construct across one or more segments of the spinal column. Extension guides are provided that attach to bone anchors implanted within the spine. The extension guides have a guide channel that align with a rod channel in the anchor to help direct the rod to the anchor. The rod reducer may be passed through the interior of the guide assemblies with a distal end arranged in a first position allowing the distal end to pass through the guide. Once through the guide the distal end may be expanded to provide dual contact on the rod at each end of the bone anchor rod channel.

This application describes surgical instruments and implants, including a rod reduction instrument, for building a posterior fixation construct across one or more segments of the spinal column. Extension guides are provided that attach to bone anchors implanted within the spine. The extension guides have a guide channel that align with a rod channel in the anchor to help direct the rod to the anchor. The rod reducer may be passed through the interior of the guide assemblies with a distal end arranged in a first position allowing the distal end to pass through the guide. Once through the guide the distal end may be expanded to provide dual contact on the rod at each end of the bone anchor rod channel.

A system comprising surgical instruments of different types. Each surgical instrument includes a body member and a leg having a first end integrated with and a leg portion extending from the body member. The instrument includes a head cavity formed in a free end of the leg. The cavity holds a head. A channel is formed along a portion of a longitudinal length of the leg. The instrument includes an elongated rocker assembly pivotally coupled within the channel, with a spring actuation tab in proximity to the body member. The instrument includes a collar slidably coupled around the body member and having a first position located between the body member and the actuation tab such that a portion of the collar is under the actuation tab to limit pivotal motion of the rocker assembly and a second position of the collar has a clearance from under the actuation tab.

A surgical instrument includes a body member and a leg having a first end integrated with and extending from the body member. A head cavity is in the leg portion to hold a head. A channel is formed along a longitudinal length of the leg. An elongated rocker assembly includes an elongated lever arm coupled within the channel about a fulcrum and a spring actuation. A projection of the arm projects in a direction of the head cavity. A rocker slide lock has a collar slidably coupled around the body member and having a first position located between the body member and the actuation tab, such that a portion of the collar is under the actuation tab to limit pivotal motion of the rocker assembly, and a second position having a clearance from under the actuation tab.

Provided is a novel rod reducing device including a screw jack mechanism that is moveably engaged with an elongated grasping fork assembly, the screw jack mechanism having an elongated threaded portion, the elongated threaded portion being connected at its most distal end to a rod contact member, which is positioned in sliding circumferential contact with each of the two opposing elongated grasping members and the most proximal end of the elongated threaded portion terminating in a controlling member, which can be activated in a measured and controlled manner. A method of using the device is also provided.

The present invention includes a pedicle screw made with a bone fastener and a rod coupling head, the rod coupling head comprising an upper rod coupling: the lower rod coupling having a lateral rod opening adapted to receive a permanent rod; an angled bore extends into the lateral rod opening; and a permanent rod fastener in the angled bore to engage a permanent rod in the lateral rod opening; and a upper rod coupling having an upper rod opening adapted to receive a temporary rod, wherein the upper rod opening is formed to receive a temporary rod fastener; wherein the upper rod coupling is detachable from the lower rod coupling at a transition and a temporary rod is temporarily affixed into the upper rod opening during a bone realignment and a permanent rod is positioned in the lateral rod opening and engaged by the permanent rod fastener upon final bone alignment.

A multi-stage minimally invasive surgical procedure and associated instruments are disclosed. First, the surgical site is prepared. After preparation, the bone screws or anchors are attached to the bone. Subsequent to insertion of the screws, a rod or connecting member is positioned within the yoke portion of the bone screw. Caps are then placed in a pre-lock position within the yokes. The bone screws may be compressed together or distracted along the rod or connecting member, thereby setting the final spacing of the bones or bone segments. Finally the caps are moved to a final lock position to fix the screws to the rod or connecting member to maintain the bones in position relative to each other.

An intervertebral spacer inserter includes a sleeve having a longitudinal axis, a hollow sleeve bore extending through the sleeve along the longitudinal axis, a sleeve tip end and an opening of a passage disposed in the sleeve tip end. The passage extends into the sleeve to the sleeve shaft along a passage axis that intersects the longitudinal axis at an angle less than about 90°. A sliding tip with an elongated slot is in contact with the sleeve tip end and is moveable with respect to the sleeve tip end between a first position with the opening accessible through the elongated slot and disposed adjacent a first end of the elongated slot and a second position with the opening accessible through the elongated slot and disposed adjacent a second end of the elongated slot opposite the first end.

A polyaxial bone anchoring device includes a receiving part with two legs defining a recess for receiving a rod and a pressure member for exerting pressure on a head of a bone anchoring element in the receiving part, the pressure member having an engagement portion. The engagement portion can extend at least partially into a leg and is directly engageable from outside the bone anchoring device to move the engagement portion axially for adjusting the pressure member from a non-locking position where the head is pivotable to a locking position where the head is clamped. When the pressure member is in the locking position and the engagement portion is free from any outside axial forces, a first contact surface of the receiving part cooperates with a second contact surface of the pressure member to hold the pressure member in the locking position.

Provided are improved pedicle screws or lateral mass screws, systems and methods for stabilizing spinal vertebrae, such as a pedicle or lateral vertebral mass, during minimally invasive spinal surgery. For example, provided is a pedicle screw or lateral mass screw having a screw shaft comprising an elongated threaded body having a vertical axis, a polyaxial screw head comprising two opposite walls that define a concave channel, and two semi-rigid, non-wire, elongated projections extending from two opposite walls of the polyaxial screw head at a positive angle in relation to a horizontal plane.