Systems and methods for pedicle screw stabilization of spinal vertebrae

A system for stabilizing spinal vertebrae through a skin incision, comprising:

• a first screw having a first screw head and a second screw having a second screw head;
• a first tower having a first outer wall defining a lumen extending along a first longitudinal centerline, and a first opening orthogonal to the first longitudinal centerline, the opening positioned at a proximal end of the first outer wall, the first tower configured to be removably coupled with the first screw at a distal end of the first tower;
• a second tower having a second outer wall defining a lumen extending along a second longitudinal centerline, and a second opening orthogonal to the second longitudinal centerline, the second opening positioned at a proximal end of the second outer wall, the second tower configured to be removably coupled with the second screw at a distal end of the second tower;
• and
• a rod insertion device comprising:
• a body portion configured to be removably coupled to at least one of the first tower and the second tower, the body portion comprising a longitudinal lumen and a transverse lumen orthogonal to the longitudinal lumen;
• a rotating member configured to be rotatably coupled to the body portion about the transverse lumen;
• an arc member extending from a distal end of the rotating member opposite the body portion, the arc member configured to removably support a connection rod;
• and
• an insertable support pin configured to be removably inserted through the longitudinal lumen of the body portion and into the lumen of at least one of the first tower and the second tower;
• wherein:
• the rod insertion device is configured to advance the connection rod to at least the first screw and the second screw;
• and
• the longitudinal lumen is configured to be coaxial with at least one of the first longitudinal centerline or the second longitudinal centerline.

A method of stabilizing spinal vertebrae, comprising:

• implanting two or more screws coupled with a corresponding one of two or more towers through an incision into a corresponding vertebra, wherein a first screw of the two or more screws comprises a first screw head and a second screw of the two or more screws comprises a second screw head, wherein a first tower of the two or more towers comprises a distal portion, a proximal portion, a bend between the distal portion and the proximal portion, and an opening therein that is completely enclosed, wherein the first tower is configured to be removably coupled with the first screw at a distal end of the first tower, and a second tower of the two or more towers comprises a distal portion and a proximal portion, wherein the second tower is configured to be removably coupled with the second screw at a distal end of the second tower, and wherein the second tower is received within the opening of the first tower in an operable state such that an outer wall of a portion of the first tower surrounds an outer surface of a portion of the second tower;
• aligning a longitudinal lumen of a body portion of a rod insertion device with a longitudinal centerline of at least one of the two or more towers, wherein the rod insertion device comprises a rotating arm that can rotate about an axis of rotation relative to at least one of the two or more towers;
• positioning at least a portion of the rod insertion device into the opening of the first tower in the operable state such that the outer wall of the portion of the first tower surrounds an outer surface of at least the portion of the rod insertion device;
• inserting an insertion support pin through the longitudinal lumen and into a lumen defined by an outer wall of the at least one of the two or more towers, wherein the outer wall of the portion of the first tower surrounds an outer surface of the insertion support pin;
• moving a first tower of the two or more towers relative to a second tower of the two or more towers to move a first vertebra from a first position relative to a second vertebra to a second position relative to the second vertebra;
• and
• advancing a connecting element toward the two or more screws and into the first screw head of the first screw and the second screw head of the second screw with the rotating arm of the rod insertion device;
• and
• securing the connecting element to at least one of the two or more screws to prevent the first vertebra from moving back to the first position relative to the second vertebra.