Patent ID: 7727260

Claim:
An access sleeve for use in implanting a stabilization system into a patient, comprising: an exterior surface; first and second spaced apart ends, the second end being operatively connectable to a rod fastening member of a bone anchor; an interior surface defining a volume; a slot extending at least partially along a length of the exterior surface of the access sleeve and providing an opening into the volume; and a channel extending along a length of the interior surface, being disposed substantially opposite to the slot, and including a contour complementing a contour of an end of an interconnecting rod, the end portion of the rod including a groove, the channel contour being such that the end portion of the rod may enter and slide in the channel along its length toward the rod fastening member of the bone anchor, an the channel contour including at least one undercut groove at least partially along the length thereof, wherein: the contour of the channel includes at least one undercut groove providing at least one lip at least partially along the length thereof such that a rod disposed in the slot is prevented from dislocating out of the slot, the slot is sized and shaped such that an end portion of the rod passes therethrough, and slides along the length of the access sleeve toward the second end thereof and toward the rod fastening member of the bone anchor such that the access sleeve assists in guiding the rod into positioning for fixing to the bone anchor, and the undercut groove and the groove of the rod are sized and shaped such that the end portion may enter and slide in the channel along its length but may not be disengaged in a transverse direction from the channel.