Patent ID: 8439952

Claim:
An improved connecting rod for use on an animal subject, said connecting rod used in conjunction with an installation instrument having anchor extensions coupled to at least two bone anchors, a portion of the instrument moveable through an arcing trajectory with respect to said bone anchors to position said connecting rod to a position proximate said at least two bone anchors, the improvement comprising: a connecting rod, said connecting rod including a main shaft portion and a tip portion, said main shaft portion constructed of a single piece of material being sufficiently rigid to be pushed through soft animal tissue when grasped at a first distal end, said main shaft having a longitudinal centerline that is arced to substantially match said arcing trajectory and a length sufficient to connect said at least two bone anchors, a second distal end of said main shaft having an aperture therein, said aperture extending generally along said centerline and sized to accept a portion of said tip to retain said tip in alignment with said arcing longitudinal centerline, said tip being constructed from a bioresorbable material, said tip having a base end and an insertion end, said insertion end of said tip being constructed and arranged for forming a path through animal tissue to facilitate installation of said main shaft into said at least two bone anchors, said tip base including a projection sized and shaped to enter said aperture, said projection having a side surface constructed and arranged to cooperate with said aperture for securing said tip to said main shaft, said connecting rod having a first overall length causing impingement with an adjacent bony structure, said connecting rod having a second length after a predetermined time to eliminate said impingement with said adjacent bony structure.