Patent ID: 8496691

Claim:
A system for treating a spine, comprising: an attachment device having an access surface, a facing surface, a first attachment lumen between the access surface and the facing surface of the attachment device, the first attachment lumen having a first lumen surface with a first attachment diameter adjacent to the access surface of the attachment device, and a second attachment diameter adjacent to the facing surface of the attachment device, wherein the first attachment diameter is greater than the second attachment diameter, and a first retaining channel along the first lumen surface distal to the access surface and proximal to the facing surface of the attachment device with a third attachment diameter about the first retaining channel, and a side-biased blocking structure at least partially located within the retaining channel and having a through lumen comprising a longitudinal axis that is substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the first attachment lumen, the blocking structure having a first uncompressed, configuration wherein the longitudinal axis of the through lumen is laterally offset from the longitudinal axis of the first attachment lumen so that the blocking structure at least partially protrudes into the first attachment lumen, and a second, compressed configuration wherein the longitudinal axis of the through lumen is substantially coincident with the longitudinal axis of the first attachment lumen so that the blocking structure does not protrude into the first attachment lumen; and at least one attachment fastener having a proximal position and a distal position, wherein in the proximal position, the attachment fastener is configured to move the blocking structure into its second compressed configuration and in the distal position, the attachment fastener lies distal to the blocking structure, which protrudes into the first attachment lumen in its first uncompressed, resting configuration.