Patent ID: 8236032

Claim:
A method of placing a spinal fixation element over a bone anchor in a minimally invasive surgery, the bone anchor having a shaft portion configured to be placed in a bone and a head portion configured to stay above the bone, the method comprising: coupling a first elongated extension element and a second elongated extension element to a head plate by passing the first elongated extension element and the second elongated extension element through a pair of openings provided on the head plate; coupling the bone anchor to the head plate by passing the shaft portion of the bone anchor through a central opening provided on the head plate; inserting the shaft portion of the bone anchor in a bone, wherein the first elongated extension element, the second elongated extension element and the head plate stay above the bone; coupling a head cap to the first elongated extension element, the second elongated extension element and the head plate, wherein the first elongated extension element and second elongated extension element pass through a pair of openings provided on the head cap; placing the spinal fixation element over a seat portion provided on the head cap through a passage formed by the first elongated extension element and the second elongated extension element; placing a locking cap over at least one of the first elongated extension element and the second elongated extension element; reducing the locking cap along the at least one of the first elongated extension element and the second elongated extension element; and stabilizing the spinal fixation element between the head cap and the locking cap.