Articulating spinal fixation rod and system

A prosthesis for minimally invasive posterior fixation, comprising:

• a bone anchor having a head;
• a transverse portal extending through said head along an axis transverse to a central axis of said bone anchor;
• a first segment of a rod extending through said transverse portal, said first segment defining a first surface;
• a second segment of a rod having a second complementary surface;
• a joint formed at least in part by said first surface and said second surface;
• and
• a locking cap which in response to lateral movement secures said first segment within said portal and fixes the angular relationship of the joint.

A method of treating the spine, comprising the steps of:

• securing a first bone anchor to a first vertebral body;
• securing a second bone anchor to a second vertebral body;
• positioning an articulating connector between the first and second bone anchors;
• and
• transforming the connector from a flexible configuration to a rigid configuration to secure the first bone anchor to the second bone anchor.

A method for minimally invasive posterior fixation, comprising:

• securing a bone anchor to a vertebral body, said bone anchor being provided with an opening and a locking device;
• inserting a rod with at least one angularly adjustable joint between a first segment of the rod and a second segment of the rod over a guidewire along a path through said opening connector;
• and
• adjusting said locking device to fix an angular position between said first segment and said second segment.

A method of implanting spinal fusion hardware, comprising the steps of:

• positioning a first bone anchor, having a first aperture, in a first vertebral body;
• positioning a second bone anchor, having a second aperture, in a second vertebral body;
• advancing a guide wire through the first and second apertures to form a non-linear path;
• and
• advancing a fixation rod having at least one angularly adjustable joint along the non-linear path defined by the guidewire and through the first and second apertures.

A method of implanting spinal fusion hardware, comprising the steps of:

• positioning a first bone anchor, having a first aperture, in a first vertebral body;
• positioning a second bone anchor, having a second aperture, in a second vertebral body;
• mounting an alignment tool to at least one bone anchor, the alignment tool comprising a curved guide needle;
• advancing a guide wire through the first and second apertures using the alignment tool;
• and
• advancing a segmented fixation rod along the guidewire and through the first and second apertures.