Patent ID: 8398644

Claim:
A reducer in combination with an implant system, said implant comprising: an assembly comprising: a receiver having a receiver channel for receiving a rod; a screw for mounting in said receiver; at least one inner member for mounting in the receiver; said receiver, said screw and said at least one inner member cooperating to lock said rod in said receiver channel of said receiver; and a retractor comprising: a retractor body for detachably mounting onto said receiver; said retractor body comprising a rod-receiving channel for receiving said rod and for guiding said rod into said receiver channel of said receiver; said retractor body having a first end for receiving and detachably mounting to said receiver so that said receiver channel of said receiver can receive said rod while at least a portion of said retractor body substantially simultaneously retracts tissue; said reducer comprising: an elongated tubular member comprising a tubular wall having a first helical cut out area and a second helical cut out area, said first and second helical cut out areas being generally opposed and spaced approximately 180 degrees apart in said elongated tubular member and defining a reducer channel that is helical, said elongated tubular member being adapted to be mounted on said retractor, said reducer channel and said rod-receiving channel of said elongated tubular member receiving a rod and cooperating to cause said rod to move in said rod-receiving channel of said elongated tubular member and into a receiver rod-receiving channel of a receiver; said first helical cut out area and said second helical cut out area guiding said rod in said rod-receiving channel of said elongated tubular member when said reducer is rotated and urging said rod axially along an axis of said reducer such that an axis of said rod remains generally radial with respect to said axis of said reducer; said first helical cut out area said second helical cut out area extending along a longitudinal length of said elongated tubular member to permit said elongated tubular member to rotate greater than 360 degrees during said urging of said rod and rotation of said reducer; wherein said retractor further comprises a stabilizer for stabilizing said retractor body during rotation of said receiver.