Patent ID: 7740635

Claim:
An apparatus for placing screws through a cannula and across a facet joint between adjacent first and second vertebrae, said apparatus comprising: a first K-wire for inserting into a spinous process of the first vertebrae; a first fixation block removably connected to said first K-wire; a second K-wire for inserting into a transverse process of the second vertebrae; a second fixation block removably connected to said second K-wire; a first rod member removably connected to both said first and second fixation blocks; and a support apparatus secured to a single K-wire for further securing said first and second K-wires to the first and second vertebrae, wherein said support apparatus includes a support block, a third fixation block, and a third K-wire, said support block securing said support apparatus to said first K-wire, said third fixation block securing a second end of said support apparatus to said third K-wire.