Patent ID: 7651502

Claim:
A spinal rod implantation tool assembly comprising: a) a guide member having an elongate body, a bone screw attachment end, and an outer surface having a first guide and advancement structure thereon, the body defining an elongate channel, the body further defining a first elongate lateral opening communicating with the channel, the bone screw attachment end having i) first and second legs defining in part the first lateral opening and defining a second lateral opening opposed to the first lateral opening, the first leg defining a first slot and the second leg defining a second slot; and ii) first and second opposed spring tabs, the first tab attached to the first leg and the second tab attached to the second leg, each spring tab having a protrusion configured for projecting through one of the slots, and into an aperture of a spinal implant, the first and second spring tabs biasing the protrusions away from the first and second slots; b) an elongate installation tool having a translation nut and an attached sleeve, the translation nut coaxial and being freely rotatable with respect to the sleeve, the nut having an inner surface with a second guide and advancement structure thereon, mateable with the first guide and advancement structure, the sleeve having a rod pushing end, the rod pushing end configured for pressing radially inwardly against the spring tabs and thereby projecting the protrusions through the slots and into apertures of a spinal implant, the rod pressing end also configured for contact with and translation of a rod toward the spinal implant; and c) a handle configured for releaseable attachment to the guide member, the handle having a second channel configured for coaxial alignment with the first channel, and a second lateral opening configured for coaxial alignment with the first lateral opening, the second lateral opening configured for receiving a manipulation tool.