Patent ID: 7938848

Claim:
A spinal fixation system comprising: a first pedicle screw having a longitudinal axis; a passage in the first pedicle screw extending along the longitudinal axis, the passage having a proximal opening at a proximal end of the first pedicle screw and a distal opening at a distal end of the first pedicle screw; a first drill extending through the passage in the first pedicle screw, a first end of the first drill extending out of the distal opening of the passage, wherein the first end has a pointed tip and cutting edges for boring into bone; a holding device adapted to be placed over the first drill and removably coupled to the first pedicle screw, wherein a second end of the first drill extends from the holding device; wherein the passage in the first pedicle screw comprises a keyed portion and the first drill comprises a keyed segment, the keyed segment and the keyed portion configured to interlock with one another wherein rotation of the first drill results in a corresponding rotation of the first pedicle screw; a second drill; a second first pedicle screw having a second longitudinal passage configured to receive the second drill; a linking device configured to connect the first pedicle screw to the second first pedicle screw; and a coupling mechanism adapted to couple the linking device to the first pedicle screw, wherein the coupling mechanism comprises at least one annular component sized to be fitted over the first pedicle screw and the first drill.