Patent ID: 6964665

Claim:
A vertebral alignment/fixation system comprising: at least one elongated spinal adjustment device; at least one vertebral alignment/fixation assembly comprising: a screw comprising an elongated, partially cannulated shaft defining an axially arranged inner screw chamber and a screw axis, an axial opening being arranged at a proximal end of the shaft providing access to the inner screw chamber of the shaft and a tapered tip arranged at the distal end of the shaft, and wherein a distal end of the shaft is externally threaded for driving the screw into bone and wherein the proximal end of the shaft further comprises an anchor mechanism for attachment of at least one piece of fixation hardware, and an alignment rod comprising an elongated shaft with an engaging portion arranged at the distal end of the shaft designed to insert into the axial opening and cooperatively engage the inner screw chamber of the shaft, and a elongated portion arranged at the proximal end of the shaft, the elongated portion of the alignment rod having an outer diameter less than or equal to that of the screw; at least one piece of fixation attachment hardware designed to slide down the alignment rod and cooperatively engage the proximal anchor mechanism of the screw such that the at least one fixation attachment is fixedly attached thereto, the at least one fixation attachment further being designed to anchor the at least one spinal adjustment device in place.