Patent ID: 8460300

Claim:
A tool for manipulating a connecting element into position relative to vertebral anchors as part of a spinal fixation construct being installed onto a patient's spinal column, the tool comprising: a first elongate member having a proximal end spaced from a distal end, the distal end being configured for insertion through an incision in a patient for placement proximate to a first vertebral anchor coupled to a vertebra of the spinal column; a first handle proximate the proximal end of the first elongate member and configured to be grasped by a surgeon; and a connecting element retainer proximate the distal end of the first elongate member, the connecting element retainer having a recess configured to receive and selectively and non-pivotably retain the connecting element therein in a generally perpendicular orientation relative to the first elongate member at the connecting element retainer such that the connecting element is configured for insertion through the incision in an orientation generally perpendicular to the spinal column and subsequent subcutaneous re-orientation generally parallel to the spinal column; a second elongate element slidably and non-rotatably coupled to the first elongate element at a medial position between the distal and proximal ends of the first elongate element.