Patent ID: 8821502

Claim:
An instrument for compression and distraction of vertebrae in a spinal column, comprising: a first arm including a distal end that receives a first screw extender that attaches to a first vertebra; a second arm including a distal end that receives a second screw extender that attaches to a second vertebra; a third arm including a distal end that receives a third screw extender that attaches to a third vertebra; a linking member that pivotally links proximal ends of the first, second, and third arms; and an actuator that positions the distal ends of the first arm and the second arm relative to the third arm to compress and distract the first vertebra and the second vertebra relative to the third vertebra, wherein rotating the actuator in a first direction positions the first arm and the second arm away from the third arm and rotating the actuator in a second direction positions the first arm and the second arm towards the third arm.