Patent ID: 7918857

Claim:
A percutaneous access device, comprising: a hollow elongate member having an inner lumen extending therethrough and adapted to span from at least a skin incision in a patient to a predetermined site proximate a spine of the patient, the hollow elongate member having opposed arms coupled by at least one fulcrum such that the opposed arms are adapted to pivot relative to one another to releasably engage a bone anchor between a distal end of the opposed arms; and a locking mechanism disposed between the opposed arms and movable between an unlocked position in which the opposed arms are free to pivot relative to one another, and a locked position in which the locking mechanism prevents the opposed arms from pivoting toward and away from one another to lock a bone anchor into engagement with the opposed arms, the locking mechanism having a retaining element formed thereon and configured to selectively retain the locking mechanism in the locked and unlocked positions; wherein the locking mechanism is slidably coupled to the hollow elongate member such that the locking mechanism slides proximally and distally between the unlocked and locked positions; wherein the locking mechanism comprises at least one block extending between the opposed arms and positioned proximal of the fulcrum; and wherein the at least one block is formed on a band at least partially disposed around the hollow elongate member.