Patent ID: 8388661

Claim:
A surgical system comprising: an insertion instrument including a proximal end, a distal end, and a cannulated bore extending from the proximal end to the distal end, the cannulated bore having a longitudinal axis, the insertion instrument further including a projection adjacent to the distal end and a pin moveable associated with the insertion instrument; and a connector, the connector being sized and configured to connect a bone anchor to a support rod, the connector including: a channel for receiving the support rod; a bore for receiving at least a portion of the bone anchor, the bore including a longitudinal axis; a recess having a longitudinal axis, the recess receiving the projection formed on the insertion instrument so that, once engaged, the connector is pivotably mounted to the insertion instrument between a first position and a second position, wherein when in the first position, the longitudinal axis of the cannulated bore is not aligned with the longitudinal axis of the bore formed in the connector and, when in the second position, the longitudinal axis of the cannulated bore is aligned with the longitudinal axis of the bore formed in the connector; and first and second sockets, the first and second sockets each having a longitudinal axis, the pin being at least partially received within the first socket to couple the connector to the insertion instrument when the connector is in the first position and being at least partially received within the second socket to couple the connector to the insertion instrument when the connector is in the second position.