Patent ID: 7465306

Claim:
A spinal surgical system, comprising: a first anchor engageable to a spinal column; a first extender extending between a proximal end and a distal end, said distal end being releasably engageable to said first anchor when engaged to the spinal column, said first extender including a passage extending at least partially therethrough and opening at said distal end, said first extender including an entry hole in one side thereof in communication with said passage and an elongated slot along another side thereof opposite said entry hole, said elongated slot being in communication with said passage and opening at said distal end; a second anchor engageable to the spinal column; a second extender extending between a proximal end and a distal end, said distal end being releasably engageable to said second anchor when engaged to the spinal column, said second extender including a passage extending at least partially therethrough and opening at said distal end, said second extender including an elongated slot in one side thereof in communication with said passage, said elongated slot of said second extender being alignable with said elongated slot of said first extender; a connecting member positionable through said entry hole of said first extender and into a position extending between said passages of said first and second extenders through said elongated slots of said first and second extender, wherein: at least one of said extenders includes an engaging member defining said passage, said engaging member being removably engageable with a respective one of said first and second anchors, said at least one extender further including an actuator positioned about said engaging member and movable therealong to bias said engaging member into engagement with said respective anchor; said engaging member includes a pair of opposite legs separated from one another by a pair of opposite slots, said slots each including a proximal terminal end spaced distally from a proximal end of said engaging member; said actuator includes a tubular body positionable over said engaging member, said tubular body defining at least one slot extending therealong aligned with one of said slots of said engaging member to form said elongated slot of said at least one extender; and said actuator defines said entry hole in a side thereof opposite said at least one slot of said actuator, said entry hole being aligned with said proximal terminal end of said slots of said engaging member.