A reducer comprises a reducing shaft for engaging a stabilization member, a reducer body for engaging a pedicle screw extender and receiving the reducing shaft along an axis, and one or more of a three-pawl clutch mechanism, a three-stage locking mechanism and a closure mechanism. The clutch mechanism comprises a clutch housing comprising a central passage into which the reducing shaft extends and ports intersecting the central passage, a clutch knob surrounding the clutch housing, and clutch pawls disposed within the ports. The locking mechanism attaches the reducer body to the pedicle screw extender and comprises a first pivoting lever comprising a toothed end, a second pivoting lever comprising a socket for engaging the tooth, and a protrusion configured to engage the pedicle screw extender. The closure mechanism comprises a driver shaft extending through the reducing shaft and a biasing element to bias the driver shaft to a retracted position.

Systems and methods of operating a tower extender in conjunction with a bone anchor housing can comprise positioning a plurality of deflectable members of a distal end of the tower extender proximate the bone anchor housing, pushing the distal end of the tower extender into engagement with the bone anchor housing to flex the plurality of deflectable members around the bone anchor housing to attach the tower extender relative to the bone anchor housing, rotating a knob to lock the plurality of deflectable members from deflecting away from the bone anchor housing, performing a portion of a surgical procedure with the tower extender, rotating the knob to deflect the plurality of deflectable members away from the bone anchor housing and puling the tower extender away from the bone anchor housing.

An instrument includes an outer sleeve and an inner sleeve positioned in the outer sleeve. The inner sleeve defines a cavity. The shaft extends through the inner sleeve and includes a drive. A latch is positioned in the cavity. An inner sheath extends through an outer sheath and has a proximal end positioned between the inner sleeve and the shaft and a distal end comprising a threaded surface. The proximal end of the inner sheath includes a groove. The inner sleeve is movable relative to the outer sleeve to move the instrument between a first orientation in which the latch is positioned in the groove and the sheaths are prevented from translating relative to the outer sleeve and a second orientation in which the latch is spaced apart from the groove and the sheaths are translatable relative to the outer sleeve. Systems, implants and methods are disclosed.

A compressor/distractor system for operating on a spine is disclosed. The system includes two rod reducers which each advance a spinal rod into the shoulder portion of a pedicle screw. Each rod reducer includes an inner member, an outer member, and a pair of gripping members. Each outer member receives and advances the spinal rod into the pedicle screw. The outer member also includes a through slot which receives the proximal end of each of the pair of gripping members which may limit the longitudinal translation of the outer member with respect to the inner member. The compressor/distractor system may include a compressor/distractor device which has a compressing, a distracting, and a neutral configuration. A method for using the minimally invasive rod reducers with the compressor/distractor system to secure at least two pedicle screws in desired positions on a spinal rod is also disclosed.

Systems and methods for a guide assembly for introducing a bone anchor to an operative target site. The guide includes an outer sleeve and an inner sleeve. The outer sleeve has a distal anchor engaging end, a proximal end, and a central passage extending from the distal end to the proximal end. The inner sleeve may be situated in the central passage of the outer sleeve. The inner sleeve is movable being between a first position and a second position. The first position permits insertion of the bone anchor in the central passage. The second position releasably fixes the bone anchor to the guide assembly.

A device may include an outer sleeve with a hollow interior, and an inner sleeve with a hollow interior to couple axially and slidingly. The outer sleeve may include an outer central body, an outer proximal end part and an outer distal end part integrally connected to one another, and an outer channel extending along the entire outer proximal end part and along a substantial portion of the outer central body. The inner sleeve may include an inner central body, an inner proximal end part and an inner distal end part integrally connected to one another, and an inner channel extending along the entire inner proximal end part and along a substantial part of the inner central body. The inner sleeve may include, in the inner proximal end of the inner sleeve, a lateral engagement element, and an axial engagement element for releasably engaging a surgical screw.

Devices, systems, and methods for inserting a vertebral stabilization member, such as a rod. The insertion device includes an outer guide tube, a pin assembly including a pin and a pusher member extending therethrough. The insertion device is configured to actuate a rod between a first orientation and a second orientation angled with respect to the first orientation in order to position the rod in an appropriate location for attachment to bone.

Devices for retracting tissue during a minimally-invasive, posterior spinal fusion procedure include a blade positionable along a passageway device connected to a connecting element implanted in a vertebra of the spine, such that the blade covers at least a portion of a longitudinal opening of the passageway device. The blade may be coupled to the passageway device by receiving the passageway device with a receiving portion. Systems for displacing the vertebrae of the spine include first and second extenders, the distal ends of each of which are configured to engage the connecting elements. Each extender may include a shaft configured to be securely engaged within a cage of the respective connecting element. The devices and systems of the present invention may be used in connection with an interbody fusion technique performed through an opening extending between the passageway devices, and an intermediate retractor blade may provide additional tissue retraction.

An access device for accessing an intervertebral disc having an outer shield comprising an access shield with a larger diameter (˜16-30 mm) that reaches from the skin down to the facet line, with an inner shield having a second smaller diameter (˜5-12 mm) extending past the access shield and reaches down to the disc level. This combines the benefits of the direct visual microsurgical/mini open approaches and the percutaneous, “ultra-MIS” techniques.

In an example system, a screw tower includes a rigid screw tower body with flexible tulip retaining clips for releasably securing the screw tower to a tulip. An elongate rod channel receives a spinal fixation rod transversely through the screw tower body. A drive shaft rotatably received in the screw tower body includes opposing first and second threaded members for threadedly engaging an outwardly threaded portion of a drive shaft. Each threaded member rides on a corresponding ramped portion on the driver body to guide the threaded members proximately and radially inwardly to an engaged position with the threaded portion of the drive shaft and distally and radially outwardly to a disengaged position from the threaded portion of the drive shaft.