Percutaneous spinal rod insertion system and related methods

1. A spinal rod implantation system to be used with a plurality of pedicle screws to be secured to respective pedicles of a patient's spine, each pedicle screw having a spinal rod channel therethrough, the spinal rod implantation system comprising:

a plurality of extenders, each comprising

an inner member having a distal end, and

an outer member surrounding said inner member and being slidable relative thereto to permit removable coupling of the distal end of said inner member to a respective pedicle screw,

said inner member and said outer member comprising respective features defining a first joint permitting at least partial relative rotation to provide a first degree of rotational freedom;

a plurality of extender heads, each pivotally coupled to a proximal end of a respective outer member to define a second joint providing a second degree of rotational freedom; and

a spinal rod insertion assembly coupled to said plurality of extender heads for guiding the spinal rod through the spinal rod channels of the plurality of pedicle screws.

2. The spinal rod implantation system of claim 1 wherein the first joint comprises a tongue and groove joint.

3. The spinal rod implantation system of claim 1 wherein the second joint comprises a hinge joint.

4. The spinal rod implantation system of claim 1 wherein said inner members are telescopic for adjusting a height of said extender.

5. The spinal rod implantation system of claim 1 wherein said spinal rod insertion assembly comprises:

an arcuate guide tube for guiding the spinal rod through the spinal rod channels of the pedicle screws; and

at least one alignment member coupling said arcuate guide tube to said extender heads.

6. The spinal rod implantation system of claim 5 wherein said extender heads have a respective alignment slot on opposing sides thereof; and wherein said at least one alignment member comprises a respective alignment member positioned in the alignment slots on the opposing sides of said extender heads.

7. The spinal rod implantation system of claim 6 further comprising a reduction clamp assembly to be coupled to said extender heads for aligning the alignment slots.

8. The spinal rod implantation system of claim 6 further comprising an alignment member handle connecting said alignment members.

9. The spinal rod implantation system of claim 5 further comprising a spinal rod insertion probe for directing the spinal rod through said arcuate guide tube and the spinal rod channels of the pedicle screws.

10. The spinal rod implantation system of claim 1 wherein said spinal rod insertion assembly comprises:

a base pivotally coupled to at least one of said extender heads; and

an insertion arm carried by said base for guiding the spinal rod through the spinal rod channels of said pedicle screws.

11. The spinal rod implantation system of claim 10 wherein said insertion arm has an arcuate shape.

12. A spinal rod implantation system to be used with a plurality of pedicle screws to be secured to respective pedicles of a patient's spine, each pedicle screw having a spinal rod channel therethrough, the spinal rod implantation system comprising:

a plurality of extenders, each comprising

an inner member having a distal end, and

an outer member surrounding said inner member and being slidable relative thereto to permit removable coupling of the distal end of said inner member to a respective pedicle screw,

said inner member and said outer member comprising respective features defining a joint permitting at least partial relative rotation to provide a degree of rotational freedom;

a plurality of extender heads each coupled to a proximal end of a respective outer member; and

a spinal rod insertion assembly coupled to said plurality of extender heads for guiding the spinal rod through the spinal rod channels of the plurality of pedicle screws.

13. The spinal rod implantation system of claim 12 wherein the joint comprises a tongue and groove joint.

14. The spinal rod implantation system of claim 12 wherein said inner members are telescopic for adjusting a height of said extender.

15. A spinal rod implantation system to be used with a plurality of pedicle screws to be secured to respective pedicles of a patient's spine, each pedicle screw having a spinal rod channel therethrough, the spinal rod implantation system comprising:

a plurality of extenders, each comprising

an inner member having a distal end, and

an outer member surrounding said inner member and being slidable relative thereto to permit removable coupling of the distal end of said inner member to a respective pedicle screw;

a plurality of extender heads, each pivotally coupled to a proximal end of a respective outer member to define a joint providing a degree of rotational freedom; and

a spinal rod insertion assembly coupled to said plurality of extender heads for guiding the spinal rod through the spinal rod channels of the plurality of pedicle screws.

16. The spinal rod implantation system of claim 15 wherein the joint comprises a hinge joint.

17. The spinal rod implantation system of claim 15 wherein said inner members are telescopic for adjusting a height of said extender.

18. A method for implanting a spinal rod with a plurality of pedicle screws to be secured to respective pedicles of a patient's spine, each pedicle screw having a spinal rod channel therethrough, the method comprising:

providing a plurality of extenders each comprising an inner member having a distal end and an outer member;

positioning the outer members surrounding the inner members so that the outer members are slidable relative to the inner members to permit removable coupling of the distal ends of the inner members to respective pedicle screws, the inner member and the outer member comprising respective features defining a first joint permitting at least partial relative rotation to provide a first degree of rotational freedom;

pivotally coupling a plurality of extender heads to a proximal end of a respective outer member to define a second joint providing a second degree of rotational freedom; and

coupling a spinal rod insertion assembly to the plurality of extender heads for guiding the spinal rod through the spinal rod channels of the plurality of pedicle screws.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the first joint comprises a tongue and groove joint.

20. The method of claim 18 wherein the second joint comprises a hinge joint.

21. The method of claim 18 wherein the inner members are telescopic for adjusting a height of the extender.

22. A method for implanting a spinal rod with a plurality of pedicle screws to be secured to respective pedicles of a patient's spine, each pedicle screw having a spinal rod channel therethrough, the method comprising:

providing a plurality of extenders each comprising an inner member having a distal end and an outer member;

positioning the outer members surrounding the inner members so that the outer members are slidable relative to the inner members to permit removable coupling of the distal ends of the inner members to respective pedicle screws, the inner member and the outer member comprising respective features defining a joint permitting at least partial relative rotation to provide a degree of rotational freedom;

coupling a plurality of extender heads to a proximal end of a respective outer member; and

coupling a spinal rod insertion assembly to the plurality of extender heads for guiding the spinal rod through the spinal rod channels of the plurality of pedicle screws.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein the joint comprises a tongue and groove joint.

24. The method of claim 22 wherein the inner members are telescopic for adjusting a height of the extender.

25. A method for implanting a spinal rod with a plurality of pedicle screws to be secured to respective pedicles of a patient's spine, each pedicle screw having a spinal rod channel therethrough, the method comprising:

providing a plurality of extenders each comprising an inner member having a distal end and an outer member;

positioning the outer members surrounding the inner members so that the outer members are slidable relative to the inner members to permit removable coupling of the distal end of the inner member to a respective pedicle screw;

pivotally coupling a plurality of extender heads to a proximal end of a respective outer member to define a joint providing a degree of rotational freedom; and

coupling a spinal rod insertion assembly to the plurality of extender heads for guiding the spinal rod through the spinal rod channels of the plurality of pedicle screws.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein the joint comprises a hinge joint.

27. The method of claim 25 wherein the inner members are telescopic for adjusting a height of the extender.