Patent ID: 8585705

Claim:
A spinal implant device for inserting a curved spinal implant alignment rod through an opening of at least one spinal implant, comprising: a curved rod holder: defining a central bore shaped to slidably receive therein the curved spinal implant alignment rod and having a rod holding curve substantially equal to a curve of the curved spinal implant alignment rod; and having outer bearing surfaces; an elongated main body defining a post connector portion, a post receiving slot, and a rod holder slot and having a bearing assembly operable to hold the rod holder within the rod holder slot longitudinally and laterally stable and rotationally movable about a central rotation point of the rod holder that is aligned with the post connector portion, the bearing assembly having bearings providing at least three bearing contact points at the outer bearing surfaces to movably hold the rod holder with respect to the main body such that the rod holder can only arcuately rotate with respect to the central rotation point; at least one spinal implant post having: a distal implant retaining end operable to removably secure the at least one spinal implant thereto; a proximal post securing end shaped to removably secure with the post connector portion; and a height such that, when the proximal post securing end is removably secured at the post connector portion, the spinal implant is held at a distance to align the opening of the spinal implant with a tip of the rod in the rod holder when arcuate motion of the rod holder rotates the rod within the bearings to the spinal implant; the post receiving slot being shaped to hold the proximal post securing end longitudinally free and laterally secure; and the rod holder slot being shaped to hold therewithin the bearings and to movably hold the rod holder within the bearings, at least one of the bearings being longitudinally adjustable towards and away from the rod holder to removably hold the rod holder therewithin.