Insertion Assembly for Minimally Invasive Spinal Surgery

Abstract

An alignment rod aligns first and second vertebra screw insertion assemblies during a spinal surgical procedure. The alignment rod includes a body portion that is adapted to engage and align the first and second vertebra screw insertion assemblies during a spinal surgical procedure. The alignment rod also includes a positioning post extending from the body portion and adapted to be engaged by a positioning tool adapted to position the alignment rod relative to one of the first and second vertebra screw insertion assemblies.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An alignment rod for aligning first and second vertebra screw insertion assemblies during a spinal surgical procedure comprising:
 a body portion that is adapted to engage and align first and second vertebra screw insertion assemblies during a spinal surgical procedure; and   a positioning post extending from the body portion and adapted to be engaged by a positioning tool adapted to position the alignment rod relative to one of the first and second vertebra screw insertion assemblies.   
     
     
         2 . The alignment rod defined in  claim 1  wherein the positioning post is formed integrally with the body portion. 
     
     
         3 . The alignment rod defined in  claim 2  wherein a recessed area is provided between the positioning post and the body portion to facilitate the removal of the positioning post from the body portion. 
     
     
         4 . The alignment rod defined in  claim 1  wherein the positioning post is formed separately from the body portion. 
     
     
         5 . The alignment rod defined in  claim 4  wherein the positioning post and the body portion have cooperating structures provided thereon that releasably connect them together. 
     
     
         6 . The alignment rod defined in  claim 5  wherein the positioning post and the body portion have cooperating threaded portions provided thereon that releasably connect them together. 
     
     
         7 . The alignment rod defined in  claim 1  wherein the positioning post extends approximately at a right angle from the body portion. 
     
     
         8 . The alignment rod defined in  claim 1  wherein the positioning post extends in a generally coaxial direction from an end of the body portion. 
     
     
         9 . The alignment rod defined in  claim 1  wherein the positioning post extends at an angle from the end of the body portion. 
     
     
         10 . The alignment rod defined in  claim 1  wherein a flat surface is provided on either or both sides of the body portion. 
     
     
         11 . An assembly comprising:
 first and second vertebra screw insertion assemblies; and   an alignment rod for aligning the first and second vertebra screw insertion assemblies, the alignment rod including:
 a body portion that is adapted to engage and align first and second vertebra screw insertion assemblies during a spinal surgical procedure; and 
 a positioning post extending from the body portion and adapted to be engaged by a positioning tool adapted to position the alignment rod relative to one of the first and second vertebra screw insertion assemblies. 
   
     
     
         12 . The assembly defined in  claim 11  wherein the positioning post is formed integrally with the body portion. 
     
     
         13 . The assembly defined in  claim 12  wherein a recessed area is provided between the positioning post and the body portion to facilitate the removal of the positioning post from the body portion. 
     
     
         14 . The assembly defined in  claim 11  wherein the positioning post is formed separately from the body portion. 
     
     
         15 . The assembly defined in  claim 14  wherein the positioning post and the body portion have cooperating structures provided thereon that releasably connect them together. 
     
     
         16 . The assembly defined in  claim 15  wherein the positioning post and the body portion have cooperating threaded portions provided thereon that releasably connect them together. 
     
     
         17 . The assembly defined in  claim 11  wherein the positioning post extends approximately at a right angle from the body portion. 
     
     
         18 . The assembly defined in  claim 11  wherein the positioning post extends in a generally coaxial direction from an end of the body portion. 
     
     
         19 . The assembly defined in  claim 11  wherein the positioning post extends at an angle from the end of the body portion. 
     
     
         20 . The assembly defined in  claim 11  wherein a flat surface is provided on either or both sides of the body portion.