An access device for percutaneously accessing a pedicle fastener connected to a vertebra of a patient, the access device comprising: an elongate gripping member including a body portion, a first leg, and a second leg, the first and second legs each having a proximal portion connected to the body portion and a distal portion for engagement with a head of a pedicle fastener, wherein the distal portions of the first and second legs are deflectable away from one another to engage and disengage the head of the pedicle fastener, wherein the first and second legs of the gripping member define a first pass-through slot therebetween, the first pass-through slot adapted to receive a spinal fusion rod therethrough, wherein the distal portion of the first leg includes a first prong and a second prong, and wherein the distal portion of the second leg includes a third prong and a fourth prong; and an elongate locking member connected to and movable relative to the gripping member between a retracted position and a locked position, the elongate locking member having a first extension aligned along the first leg and a second extension aligned along the second leg, wherein the first and second extensions of the locking member prevent the respective first and second legs of the gripping member from deflecting away from one another when in the locked position; wherein: the first and second prongs have a first longitudinal slot therebetween permitting the first and second prongs to spread apart from one another, and the third and fourth prongs have a second longitudinal slot therebetween permitting the third and fourth prongs to spread apart from one another, characterized in that the access device further comprises at least one projection arranged within the first longitudinal slot, and wherein the projection is adapted to move along the first longitudinsl slot to cause the first and second prongs to spread apart from one another. an elongate gripping member including a body portion, a first leg, and a second leg, the first and second legs each having a proximal portion connected to the body portion and a distal portion for engagement with a head of a pedicle fastener, wherein the distal portions of the first and second legs are deflectable away from one another to engage and disengage the head of the pedicle fastener, wherein the first and second legs of the gripping member define a first pass-through slot therebetween, the first pass-through slot adapted to receive a spinal fusion rod therethrough, wherein the distal portion of the first leg includes a first prong and a second prong, and wherein the distal portion of the second leg includes a third prong and a fourth prong; and an elongate locking member connected to and movable relative to the gripping member between a retracted position and a locked position, the elongate locking member having a first extension aligned along the first leg and a second extension aligned along the second leg, wherein the first and second extensions of the locking member prevent the respective first and second legs of the gripping member from deflecting away from one another when in the locked position; wherein: the first and second prongs have a first longitudinal slot therebetween permitting the first and second prongs to spread apart from one another, and the third and fourth prongs have a second longitudinal slot therebetween permitting the third and fourth prongs to spread apart from one another, characterized in that the access device further comprises at least one projection arranged within the first longitudinal slot, and wherein the projection is adapted to move along the first longitudinsl slot to cause the first and second prongs to spread apart from one another. the first and second prongs have a first longitudinal slot therebetween permitting the first and second prongs to spread apart from one another, and the third and fourth prongs have a second longitudinal slot therebetween permitting the third and fourth prongs to spread apart from one another, characterized in that the access device further comprises at least one projection arranged within the first longitudinal slot, and wherein the projection is adapted to move along the first longitudinsl slot to cause the first and second prongs to spread apart from one another.