Minimally Invasive Splitable Pedicle Screw Extender

A kit for facilitating minimally invasive surgical procedures, the kit comprising:

• a tool having a proximal end and a distal end, the tool comprising:
• a first portion comprising sliding interconnected first and second arced elongate members, the first portion comprising a first attachment mechanism at the distal end,
• a second portion comprising sliding interconnected third and fourth arced elongate members, the second portion comprising a second attachment mechanism at the distal end, and wherein the second portion is separated from the first portion from the distal end to the proximal end, and
• a connector releasably connecting the first and second portions at the proximal end, the connector comprising a hollow interior;
• and
• an implant, the implant comprising corresponding first and second attachment mechanisms to releasably attach to the tool,
• wherein the first and second portions of the tool are connected only by the connector and the implant.

A method of attaching a tool to an implant to facilitate minimally invasive surgical procedures, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a tool comprising first and second outer blades, each of the first and second outer blades having a distal end and a proximal end, the distal ends each having a ledge adapted to engage an implant;
• first and second inner blades, each of the first and second inner blades having a distal end and a proximal end, the distal ends each having a locking projection extending therefrom;
• a gap extending from the proximal to the distal end separating the first inner and outer blades from the second inner and outer blades;
• a connector releasably connecting the first inner blade to the second inner blade;
• the first and second inner blades movable with respect to the first and second outer blades from a first position where the distal ends of the first and second inner blades are spaced a first distance from the distal end of the first and second outer blades and a second position where the distal ends of the first and second inner blades are spaced a second distance less than the first distance from the distal end of the first and second outer blades;
• inserting the tool through an incision until the distal ends of the first and second outer blades are proximate the implant;
• coupling the distal ends of the first and second outer blades to the implant by aligning the ledges with corresponding shelves on the implant;
• sliding the first and second inner blades from the first position to the second position until the locking projections engage corresponding detents on the implant;
• and
• removing the connector;
• and
• moving a part of the implant along the gap separating the first inner and outer blades from the second inner and outer blades from the proximal end to the distal end.