Patent ID: 8758411

Claim:
An extension rod for connecting to a preexisting fixation construct anchored to a spine during a previous surgery in order to extend the fixation construct to span at least one additional spinal level, the preexisting construct including at least two index pedicle screws and an index rod linking the index pedicle screws, the extension rod comprising: a lever arm, the lever arm including an extension segment having a longitudinal axis and adapted to be rigidly coupled to a pedicle screw, and an offset segment extending away from the extension segment oblique to the longitudinal axis; and a connecting element attached to the lever arm, the connecting element including a rod slot configured to receive a portion of the index rod of a preexisting fixation construct therein, wherein movement of the lever arm from a first position to a second position rigidly couples the extension rod to the index rod, and wherein moving the lever arm to the second position also aligns the longitudinal axis of the extension segment with a longitudinal axis of the index rod.