Patent ID: 8721692

Claim:
A method for introducing a spinal fixation element into a patient's spinal column, comprising: providing at least two percutaneous access devices, each device having a proximal end positioned outside a patient's body, a distal end coupled to a spinal anchor, a lumen extending between the proximal and distal ends of the percutaneous access device and defining a longitudinal axis, and at least one sidewall opening extending from the distal end through at least a portion of the percutaneous access device; positioning opposed terminal ends of a spinal fixation element through the at least one sidewall opening of the at least two percutaneous access devices with the spinal fixation element being located above a skin surface of the patient and extending in an orientation substantially parallel to the device spinal column of the patient; and advancing the spinal fixation element in the substantially parallel orientation to seat the spinal fixation element in a receiver head of at least two adjacent spinal anchors.