Patent ID: 8685029

Claim:
A spinal system comprising, a bone anchor having a bone screw connected to a rod receiving member, the rod receiving member having a distal base and two spaced apart arms extending proximally from the base and forming a U-shaped slot for receiving a spinal rod, an anchor extension having a distal end connectable to the receiver member, a proximal end, and a longitudinal axis extending between the proximal end and the distal end, the proximal end of the anchor extension including a flange having a diameter, and a spinal rod reduction instrument comprising, a reduction member positioned about the anchor extension and movable axially along the longitudinal axis of the anchor extension, an actuator assembly connected to the reduction member and operable to move the reduction member distally relative to the anchor extension along the longitudinal axis of the anchor extension, and a connection mechanism for removable and replaceable connection of the actuator assembly to the proximal end of the anchor extension, the connection mechanism being adjustable between a first position in which the connection mechanism connects the actuator assembly to the proximal end of the anchor extension and a second position in which the connection mechanism and the actuator assembly are released from the anchor extension, the connection mechanism comprising a collar having a slot positionable about the proximal end of the anchor extension, the slot having a first end with a reduced width and a second end with an increased width, the reduced width of the first end of the slot being less than the diameter of the flange on the proximal end of the anchor extension to permit connection of the collar to the anchor extension, and the increased width of the second end of the slot being greater than the diameter of the flange to permit removal of the collar from the anchor extension, the collar being adjustable in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the anchor extension to move the collar between the first position and the second position, whereby, upon connection of the actuator assembly to the anchor extension by the connection mechanism, operation of the actuator assembly moves the reduction member distally to engage and move a spinal rod into the U-shaped slot of the receiver member of the bone anchor, whereby when the collar is in the first position, the first end of the slot is positioned about the proximal end of the anchor extension distal to the flange and during operation of the actuator assembly the collar engages the flange to connect the actuator assembly to the anchor extension, and whereby when the collar is in the second position, the second end of the slot is positioned about the proximal end of the anchor extension to permit removal of the collar from the anchor extension by moving the collar proximally over the flange.