Patent ID: 9737351
Date: 2017-08-22
CPC Classifications: A61B

Claim:
1. A method for manipulating vertebrae comprising: accessing the spinal area of a patient having a pedicle screw secured to each of at least two vertebrae; engaging each pedicle screw with an inner member having distal and proximal ends defining a longitudinal axis therebetween, the distal end of each inner member receiving a head of the pedicle screw; advancing an outer member having distal and proximal ends distally along each of the inner members by rotating the proximal end of each of the outer members relative to each inner member, a pair of receiving slots on the distal end of each outer member receiving a portion of a spinal rod, each pair of receiving slots advancing the spinal rod into a saddle portion of the head of each pedicle screw; attaching a force applying device and a fulcrum to an outer surface of each outer member, the force applying device including first and second hook members and having a compressing configuration when the first and second hook members are attached to each outer member with each of the outer members between the first and second hook members and a distracting configuration when the first and second hook members are attached to each outer member with the first and second hook members between each of the outer members; manipulating each outer member with the force applying device until each of the pedicle screws is in a desired position with respect to the spinal rod; and securing each pedicle screw to the spinal rod with a set screw.