Patent ID: 7811288

Claim:
A system for adjusting a distance between vertebral bodies of a human spine, comprising: a first extender detachably coupled to a first bone fastener assembly that is securable to a first vertebral body, wherein an elongated member is secured to the first bone fastener assembly to inhibit movement of the elongated member relative to the first bone fastener assembly; a second extender detachably coupled to a second bone fastener assembly that is securable to a second vertebral body, wherein the elongated member is coupled and movable relative to the second bone fastener assembly; and an adjuster having: a first handle having an extender engager, wherein the extender engager comprises a shaft, wherein the shaft detachably engages the adjuster to the first extender; and a second handle having a driver engager, wherein a driver detachably engages the adjuster to the second extender through the driver engager of the adjuster, wherein rotation of the first handle and the second handle towards each other about a pivot point translates a force from the driver through the second handle to the second extender, wherein the force moves the second extender towards the first extender, and wherein when the second extender is forced to move towards the first extender, the second bone fastener assembly secured to the second vertebral body is forced to move towards the first bone fastener assembly secured to the first vertebral body, causing compression of the first vertebral body and the second vertebral body.