Patent ID: 7947045

Claim:
A spinal stabilization apparatus, comprising: a vertebral anchor comprising a head portion, a bone attachment portion, and a central longitudinal axis extending through the head portion and the bone attachment portion; a slot in said head portion, said slot having an open end opposite said bone attachment portion; an elongate flexible guide having a distal end removably coupled to said head portion of said vertebral anchor and adapted to extend percutaneously from a surgical site to a proximal end, said elongate flexible guide including a distal portion extending along the central longitudinal axis from the distal end to a bend and a proximal portion extending from the bend to the proximal end; and a channel in said guide, said channel extending longitudinally of said guide and communicating with said slot through said open end; wherein the proximal portion of the elongate flexible guide is disposed at an oblique angle to the central longitudinal axis.