Patent Document ID: 8048115
Application ID: 12566534

Base Claim:
1. A surgical tool for implanting a dynamic bone anchor having a deflectable post extending from a housing at a proximal end of the dynamic bone anchor, the surgical tool comprising: an elongate shaft having, at a distal end, a head adapted to engage the dynamic bone anchor; the head having a socket adapted to engage the housing of the dynamic bone anchor; the head further including a retainer adapted to engage the deflectable post to retain the deflectable post within the socket; the elongate shaft further having at the proximal end a handle for turning the shaft in order to turn the housing of the dynamic bone anchor to implant the dynamic bone anchor in a vertebra; and the elongate shaft further having adjacent the handle an actuator to cause the retainer to release the deflectable post after implantation of the bone anchor in the vertebra.

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Claim 2:
2. The surgical tool of claim 1 , further comprising: an elongate tube received over the elongate shaft; and the elongate tube being adapted to operate the retainer to release the deflectable post.