Patent ID: 7744598

Claim:
A rod reducing apparatus comprising: first and second handle elements each having a proximal portion and a distal end, said handle elements being pivotally connected to each other adjacent said distal ends of said handle elements; at least one spring connected to at least one of said handle elements and between said handle elements, whereby said handle elements are biased apart; and first and second arm elements each having a proximal end and a distal end, said arm elements being pivotally connected to each other between said ends, said proximal end of said first arm element being pivotally connected to said distal end of said first handle element, and said proximal end of said second arm element being pivotally connected to said distal end of said second handle element, whereby bringing together said first and second handle elements brings together said distal ends of said arm elements; said distal end of said first arm element having at least one extension portion having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein at least one engagement member is positioned at said distal end of said at least one extension portion and configured to contact an orthopedic bone anchor having two spaced apart branches defining a channel therebetween sized to receive a spinal rod; said distal end of said second arm element having a substantially U-shaped portion, said U-shaped portion having two extension portions substantially parallel to said second arm element and a pair of cross-pieces joining said extension portions with a gap formed between said pair of cross-pieces, said U-shaped portion connecting to the remainder of said second arm element adjacent one or both of one of said cross-pieces and one of said extension portions, said extension portions having respective distal ends, said distal ends of said extension portions of said second arm element each including a substantially part-cylindrical hollow, said hollows being substantially coaxial and having a radius equal to or larger than the radius of a the spinal rod; wherein said at least one engagement member defined by said at least one extension portion of said first arm element is pivotally engaged with said orthopedic bone anchor at a pivot engagement location defining a pivot axis, and wherein said first arm element pivots with respect to said orthopedic implant at said pivot engagement location about said pivot axis, and said first and second arm elements are operable to force the spinal rod and the orthopedic bone anchor together, and wherein one of the branches of the orthopedic bone anchor is generally aligned with said gap between said cross-pieces of said second arm element when said spinal rod is positioned within said channel.