Patent ID: 8221427

Claim:
A system that facilitates spinal rod placement, comprising: sequential cannulated dilators that create a portal along a working axis; a hinged retractor placed over the cannulated dilators that exposes a working area, the hinged retractor including (i) an upper cylinder having a proximal end, a distal end, and first and second handles operatively connected to the proximal end, (ii) a lower cylinder having a proximal end, a distal end, and a handle operatively connected to the proximal end, wherein the first handle of the upper cylinder facilitates an angled expansion, and the second handle facilitates a symmetric expansion, of the upper cylinder relative to the lower cylinder, and (iii) two hinges operatively connected to the proximal end of the upper cylinder that facilitate the angled expansion of the upper cylinder relative to the lower cylinder; screw preparation instruments that create a path along the working axis, each of the screw preparation instruments including a targeted guide with a laser oriented along a central axis thereof and attached to a fluoroscope; at least one anchor device; a T-handle alignment guide to facilitate insertion of the at least one anchor device within the spine along the working axis, the at least one anchor device having a head that accommodates the T-handle alignment guide; an alignment marker sleeve that fits within an inner cylindrical chamber of the T-handle alignment guide; and a flexible alignment marker that fits within a cannula of the alignment marker sleeve such that the tip of the flexible alignment marker rests near the center of the at least one anchor device.