Patent ID: 8771322

Claim:
A surgical fixation tool, comprising: a fixation device comprising: a connecting rod having a first end, second end, and an intermediate portion disposed between the first end and the second end; the connecting rod having a threaded portion disposed between the first end and the intermediate portion; an inferior disk coupled with the connecting rod proximate the first end of the connecting rod; a superior disk having an orifice through a central region of the superior disk; the orifice being sized to allow the superior disk to engage the threaded portion to movably couple the superior disk and the threaded portion; an installation tool having a central cavity extending through at least a portion of the installation tool; the central cavity being at least partially threaded; the installation tool being configured to install the fixation device by engaging the superior disk and the threaded portion, such that the superior disk becomes movably coupled to the threaded portion and rotation of the installation tool in a first direction directs the superior disk toward the inferior disk; and the installation tool being further configured to disengage from the superior disk and the threaded portion after installation of the fixation device, wherein the superior disk remains coupled to the threaded portion after the installation tool is disengaged from the superior disk and the threaded portion.