Patent ID: 8096996

Claim:
A rod reduction instrument for positioning a rod relative to a seat of a bone anchor in a spinal implant system, comprising: a body having a handle at a proximal end of the instrument; an inner cannula having a first proximal end, a first distal end configured to receive a seat and a first longitudinal axis defining a first bore from the first proximal end to the first distal end; the inner cannula being connected to the body at the first proximal end such that it is movable with respect to the body; the inner cannula having a first rod channel opening at the first distal end and extending towards the first proximal end; the inner cannula having a seat clamp at the first distal end configured to lock the inner cannula to the seat of a bone anchor; the seat clamp having at least one deflectable member; a middle cannula having a second proximal end, a second distal end and a second longitudinal axis defining a second bore from the second proximal end to the second distal end; the middle cannula being connected to the body at the second proximal end; the middle cannula being positioned at least partially over the inner cannula and movable with respect to the inner cannula; the middle cannula having a second rod channel opening at the second distal end and extending towards the second proximal end; the second rod channel being substantially aligned with the first rod channel; an outer cannula having a third proximal end, a third distal end and a third longitudinal axis defining a third bore from the third proximal end to the third distal end; the outer cannula being positioned at least partially over the middle cannula and movable with respect to the middle cannula; the outer cannula having a third rod channel opening at the third distal end and extending towards the third proximal end; the third rod channel being substantially aligned with the first and second rod channels; wherein the instrument is configured to receive the seat of a bone anchor at the first distal end and configured to lock to the seat at the first distal end with movement of the instrument in a direction towards the seat such that such movement slides the middle cannula distally with respect to the inner cannula and over the at least one deflectable member to thereby deflect the at least one deflectable member inwardly towards the first longitudinal axis and lock the at least one deflectable member to the seat; and wherein movement of the middle cannula proximally with respect to the inner cannula uncovers the at least one deflectable member allowing the deflectable member to spring away from the seat and the first longitudinal axis to thereby unlock the seat from the instrument; wherein, with the rod to be reduced located in one of the first or second rod channels and the seat received in the first distal end of the inner cannula, movement of the outer cannula distally with respect to the middle cannula slides the outer cannula over the middle cannula to engage the third rod channel with the rod and reduce the distance between the rod and the seat.