Patent ID: 7491218

Claim:
A system for performing spine surgery, said system comprising: a first bone screw configured to be screwed into a first vertebra; a first collar rotatably coupled to the first bone screw, said first collar comprising a first slot having a slot width; a second bone screw configured to be screwed into a second vertebra; a second collar rotatably coupled to the second bone screw, said second collar comprising a second slot; a rod, said rod having a width less than the slot width; a first sleeve comprising a first channel, said first sleeve having a length longer than a length of the first bone screw, said first sleeve comprising a distal end at one end of the first sleeve and a proximal end at a second end of the first sleeve, said first channel being formed in an opening of a sleeve wall of the first sleeve, and said first channel extending along at least a portion of the length of the first sleeve; a first closure member configured to be secured to the first collar for securing the rod within the first slot; a second sleeve, said second sleeve having a length longer than a length of the second bone screw; a second closure member configured to be secured to the second collar for securing the rod within the second slot, wherein the distal end of the first sleeve detachably couples to the first collar so that the proximal end of the first sleeve extends away from the first collar and the first channel is aligned with the first slot, and wherein after the rod, the first closure member and the first bone screw are implanted, the distal end of the first sleeve is decoupled from the first collar.