Patent ID: 7497869

Claim:
A method of positioning a rod within an anchor in a patient, the method comprising the steps of: attaching a rod to a distal end of an inserter by attaching a first section of the inserter at a first axial point along the rod and a second section of the inserter at a second axial point along the rod that is axially offset from the first axial point and coaxially aligning the rod with the inserter; moving the rod and the inserter into the patient with the rod and inserter coaxially aligned; after moving the rod and inserter a distance into the patient, axially moving the first section of the inserter relative to the second section and pivoting the first axial point about the second axial point and pivoting a first end of the rod outward from the inserter; positioning the rod into the anchor while the rod is pivoted outward from the inserter; and detaching the rod from the inserter while positioned in the anchor and removing the inserter from the patient.