Patent ID: 8579942

Claim:
A system for spinal surgery comprising: a first bone anchor, said first bone anchor comprising a screw shank with a screw shank head that is a first part of a ball-in-socket joint, and a screw head movable with respect to said screw shank head that is a second part of said ball-in-socket joint; a tubular member having: a proximal end, a distal end, a working longitudinal channel running from said proximal end to said distal end, said working longitudinal channel sized to coaxially align with said screw head, a slot positioned near said distal end within a wall of said tubular member; a connector sized to be delivered through said working longitudinal channel from said proximal end of said tubular member to said distal end of said tubular member; and a tool for causing at least a portion of said connector positioned at least partially within said working longitudinal channel to exit said working longitudinal channel via said slot.