Patent ID: 8075592

Claim:
A system for performing spine surgery, said system comprising: a first bone screw configured to be screwed into a first vertebra; a first collar rotatably coupled to the first bone screw, said first collar comprising a first slot; a second bone screw configured to be screwed into a second vertebra; a second collar rotatably coupled to the second bone screw, said second collar comprising a second slot; a rod, said rod having a width necessary to fit within the first slot and the second slot; a first sleeve comprising a first channel, said first channel being formed in an opening of a wall of the first sleeve and said first channel extending along at least a portion of a length of the first sleeve; a first closure member configured to be secured to the first collar for securing the rod within the first slot; a second sleeve; a second closure member configured to be secured to the second collar for securing the rod within the second slot, wherein the first sleeve and the first collar are configured to couple together so that the first channel is aligned with and opens into the first slot, and wherein during surgery, when the first slot is aligned with the first channel, the rod is inserted in the first channel for positioning the rod within the first slot.