Minimally invasive bone anchor extensions

A spinal anchoring system, comprising:

• a bone anchor having a head with a bone-engaging shank extending therefrom;
• and
• a bone anchor extension having
• a tubular member adapted to span from at least a skin incision in a patient to a predetermined site proximate a spine of the patient, the tubular member including first and second opposed arms and an inner lumen extending therethrough between proximal and distal ends thereof, the first and second opposed arms including a distal end adapted to pivot relative to one another to releasably engage the head of the bone anchor, and
• a locking mechanism coupled to the tubular member and movable between an unlocked position in which the opposed arms are free to pivot relative to one another, and a locked position in which the locking mechanism is positioned between the opposed arms and prevents the opposed arms from moving toward and away from one another thereby locking the opposed arms into engagement with the head of the bone anchor.

A surgical method, comprising:

• positioning a head of a bone anchor between a distal end of opposed arms of an extension device, the opposed arms pivoting relative to one another to engage the head of the bone anchor;
• moving a locking mechanism coupled to the extension device from an unlocked position in which the opposed arms are free to pivot relative to one another, to a locked position in which the locking mechanism extends between the opposed arms and prevents the opposed arms from pivoting relative to one another to lock the head of the bone anchor into engagement with the opposed arms;
• and
• implanting the bone anchor with the extension device coupled thereto in bone.