Patent ID: 8226656

Claim:
A spinal surgical system, comprising: a first anchor engageable to the spinal column, said first anchor including a bone engaging portion and a receiver portion with a receptacle; a first extender extending along a longitudinal axis between a proximal end and a distal end, said first extender including an elongated inner member releasably engaged to said receiver portion of said first anchor at said distal end, said inner member including a first passage extending from said proximal end to said receptacle of said receiver portion when said inner member is engaged to said receiver portion, said first extender further including an elongated outer member having an inner surface positioned around an outer surface of said inner member, wherein said inner surface of said outer member and said outer surface of said inner member each include a recessed portion therein that together define a second passage between said inner member and said outer member when said recessed portions are aligned that extends along said first extender and opens at said proximal end of said first extender and opens into said receptacle of said receiver portion, said second passage being separate and distinct from said first passage; a second anchor engageable to the spinal column, said second anchor including a bone engaging portion and a receiver portion with a receptacle; a second extender extending along a longitudinal axis between a proximal end and a distal end, said distal end being releasably engageable to said second anchor; and a connecting member having a length sized to extend between said receiver portions of said first and second anchors when said first and second anchors are engaged to the spinal column, wherein said second passage is sized to receive said connecting member therein so that said connecting member is maneuverable through said second passage from said proximal end of said first extender toward said receiver portion of said first anchor and then from said first extender toward said receiver portion of said second anchor so that said connecting member is positioned to extend between said receptacles of said first and second anchors.