Patent ID: 8147525
Filing Date: 2012-04-03
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. A method of treating the spine of a patient, the method comprising: inserting two or more anchors into a plurality of adjacent vertebrae, each anchor having a head and a shaft; providing a housing for each anchor, each housing having a first passage extending longitudinally therethrough between an upper opening and a lower opening, a second passage transverse to the first passage and configured to receive a longitudinal member, and a side opening configured to receive the anchor head; sliding two or more housings onto a longitudinal member, the longitudinal member configured to extend through the second passages in the housings; positioning the longitudinal member with the two or more housings disposed thereon adjacent the anchors such that each housing is adjacent an anchor head; sliding the housings onto the anchor heads with the anchor heads being received in the side openings; and securing the housings and longitudinal member to the anchor heads; wherein the anchor has a neck between the head and shaft, the neck having a width smaller than a width of the head, wherein the side opening in the housing includes a first width configured to receive the anchor head and a second width configured to receive the anchor neck, wherein sliding the housings onto the anchor heads includes positioning each housing such that the first width is aligned with the anchor head and the second width is aligned with the anchor neck.