Patent ID: 7918858

Claim:
A bone anchor extension, comprising: an inner tube having proximal and distal ends with a lumen extending therebetween; an outer tube disposed about at least a portion of the inner tube, the outer tube having proximal and distal ends with a lumen extending therebetween, the outer tube being sized to span from at least a skin incision in a patient to a predetermined site proximate a spine of the patient; and a locking mechanism substantially external with respect to the outer tube, the locking mechanism having a proximal portion pivotally coupled to the outer tube and a distal portion pivotally coupled to the inner tube such that pivotal movement of the locking mechanism causes the distal end of the inner tube to move distally toward the distal end of the outer tube to engage a bone anchor therebetween, wherein the locking mechanism is movable between a first position, in which the locking mechanism extends longitudinally relative to a longitudinal axis of the outer tube and the proximal portion is positioned on one side of the outer tube and the distal portion is positioned on an opposite side of the outer tube, and a second position in which the locking mechanism extends transversely outward relative to a longitudinal axis of the outer tube.