Patent ID: 8152810

Claim:
A spinal rod implantation tool assembly comprising: a) an elongate guide tool having: i) an upper end; ii) a lower end configured for releaseable attachment to a spinal implant bone screw head with a first rod-receiving channel in the screw head; iii) a driving tool-receiving central bore with a central axis; and iv) an elongate second rod-receiving channel extending along a length of the guide tool and opening radially outward relative to the central axis, a substantial portion of the second rod-receiving channel including a width greater than a rod received therein; wherein v) when said lower end and said bone screw head are in engagement, said second rod-receiving channel is adapted to align substantially parallel with the screw head first rod-receiving channel so as to guide a rod received in the second rod-receiving channel along at least a portion thereof and toward the screw head first rod-receiving channel; and b) a driver having a stem with a spinal implant bone screw engagement end structure, the stem being removably receivable in the guide tool central bore during installation of a bone screw, and the engagement end structure being adapted for operable engagement with the bone screw to rotate and drive the bone screw into bone and thereafter be removed from the guide tool, so as to make the guide tool second rod-receiving channel ready to receive the rod therein.