Patent ID: 8579943

Claim:
A method of securing a spinal rod to an anchoring device, the method comprising: releasably securing a locking cap to a distal end of an insertion instrument, the instrument comprising an outer tubular body, a rod persuader, and a locking shaft, each of the tubular body, rod persuader and locking shaft having proximal and distal ends and positioned coaxial with one another; positioning the distal end of the insertion instrument, and locking cap, into operative engagement with the spinal rod; engaging the anchoring device with a pair of jaws positioned on the distal end of the outer tubular body; rotating the proximal end of the rod persuader to longitudinally advance the locking cap and spinal rod distally towards the anchoring device, the proximal end and the distal end of the rod persuader being rotatable relative to one another; and after the locking cap is advanced to a proximal portion of the anchoring device, rotating the locking shaft to rotate the locking cap thereby fixating the locking cap and spinal rod to the anchoring device.