Patent ID: 8246623

Claim:
An instrument for moving a vertebral rod into an anchor attached to a vertebral member, the instrument comprising: a gripper including opposing first and second jaws each with a distal end to attach to the anchor and a proximal end, wherein the first jaw is substantially straight and the second jaw is bowed in a first plane away from the first jaw, and wherein an intermediate section of the second jaw is bowed outward away from a second plane that extends through the proximal and distal ends of the first and second jaws, and wherein a proximal section of the second jaw is substantially straight; an asymmetrical capturing space formed between inner edges of the first and second jaws and the distal ends, the capturing space including a funnel shape with a first end having a first width and a second end having a second width, wherein the first end is towards the proximal ends of the first and second jaws and has a larger width than the second end that is at the distal ends of the first and second jaws; a handle pivotally attached to one of the first and second jaws between the proximal end of the one of the first and second jaws and the first end of the capturing space; and an elongated shaft attached to the handle and including a first end with a receiver with an opening facing away from the elongated shaft and configured to engage with the vertebral rod, the elongated shaft being movable relative to the handle and being movable relative to the gripper to position the receiver throughout lateral and axial locations of the capturing space to move the vertebral rod towards the distal ends of the first and second jaws and into the anchor.