Patent ID: 7931673

Claim:
A vertebral anchor system comprising: an anchor having a head and being adapted to be secured to a patient's vertebrae; an extension member adapted to be selectively coupled to the anchor head to provide access to the anchor when coupled thereto, the extension member having a tubular sidewall having a first slot adapted to provide access to regions of the spine adjacent to the anchor, the first slot extending substantially the full height of the extension member, the extension member having a second slot in the sidewall extending less than the full height of the extension member; a deformation arrangement on the extension member permitting a portion of the extension member to deform during installation and removal of the extension member on to and from, respectively, the anchor head, the deformation arrangement including one or more slits extending proximally from a distal end of the extension member, wherein the portion of the extension member is deformed by expanding or contracting at least one of the one or more slits; and a restrictor adapted to be selectively coupled to the extension member to inhibit deformation of the deformation arrangement when coupled thereto.