Patent ID: 7985242

Claim:
A system for use in spine surgery, comprising: a rod; a first bone screw configured to be coupled to a first vertebra; a first collar coupled to the first bone screw, said first collar comprising a first slot for seating the rod; a first extender configured to be detachably coupled to the first collar; a second bone screw configured to be coupled to a second vertebra; a second collar coupled to the second bone screw, said second collar comprising a second slot for seating the rod; a sleeve positioned over at least a portion of the first extender, wherein the sleeve includes a first end, a second end, and a length extending therebetween, wherein a first end of the sleeve is configured to engage and seat the rod in the first slot; and a reducer configured to translate the first extender and the first collar relative to the sleeve; and whereby when the first bone screw is coupled to the first vertebra, the second bone screw is coupled to the second vertebra, the first extender is detachably coupled to the first collar, and the rod is at least partially seated in the second slot, the reducer is configured to translate the first extender relative to the sleeve such that the first end of the sleeve engages the rod to facilitate seating the rod in the first slot; wherein the reducer comprises at least one boss configured to couple to a recess in the first extender, and wherein the reducer comprises a base configured to engage the sleeve; wherein the sleeve includes a handle and the reducer includes arms and grips, wherein the first extender and the first collar are translated relative to the sleeve by rotating the grips of the reducer about the base towards the handle of the sleeve.