Patent ID: 7470279

Claim:
A tool set for implanting a spinal rod in a patient; said tool set comprising: a) a pair of guide tools; b) each of said guide tool being non integral with and adapted to be selectively and removably joinably attached at a lower end thereof to a respective spinal implant bone screw; c) each of said guide tools including a longitudinal and guide channel with a central axis extending upwardly from said lower end thereof; each of said channels being sized and shaped to be adapted to receive the rod laterally positioned with respect to the axes of the channels for operably guiding the rod from a position exterior of the bone screws toward and into respective bone screws; d) each of said guide tools have a helically wound first guide and advancement structure located near a bottom thereof; e) said first guide and advancement structure providing a helical pathway adapted to rotatably and matingly receive a mating structure of a bone screw closure top; and f) said first guide and advancement structure also being adapted to be aligned during removable attachment of the tool with a respective bone screw with a second guide and advancement structure on such a respective bone screw so as to continue said helical pathway when a respective guide tool is joined with such a respective bone screw; each guide tool being elongate and being sized and shaped to extend outside the patient when the guide tool is attached to a respective bone screw so as to be adapted to transfer the closure top between a respective guide tool and a respective bone screw upon rotation of the closure top.