Anchors extender assemblies and methods for using

An anchor extender, comprising:

• a first member including a first elongate body extending along a first longitudinal axis between a proximal end and an opposite distal end, said first elongate body having a pair of oppositely positioned tabs laterally offset from and extending toward said first longitudinal axis;
• a second member including a second elongate body extending along a second longitudinal axis between a proximal end and an opposite distal end, said second elongate body having an elongate passage extending between said proximal and distal ends, said elongate passage having a first portion positioned adjacent said distal end, a second portion positioned proximally of said first portion, and a transition portion extending obliquely toward said second longitudinal axis in a proximal direction from said first portion to said second portion of said elongate passage;
• a collar member rotatably coupled with said second member, said collar member including an alignment pin structured to engage with a groove on said first member such that rotation of said collar member relative to said second member translates said second member relative to said first member;
• and
• wherein said second member is positionable over said first member and slidably movable relative to said first member across a plurality of positions, said plurality of positions including an anchor engaging position in which said oppositely positioned tabs are positioned in said elongate passage opposite of and facing said transition portion of said elongate passage.

A method, comprising:

• providing an anchor including a bone engaging portion and a receiver member, the receiver member extending along a central axis between a proximal end and an oppositely positioned distal end and further including a pair of oppositely positioned branches and a receiving channel positioned between the branches, the receiving channel extending between opposite first and second sides of the receiver member;
• providing an anchor extender engageable with the anchor, the anchor extender extending along a longitudinal axis between a proximal end and an opposite distal end and including:
• a first member including oppositely positioned first and second arms each having an engaging portion structured to engage a respective one of the branches on the first side of the receiver member;
• a second member movably positioned about the first member and including a distal portion structured to engage the branches on the second side of the receiver member;
• positioning the anchor extender adjacent the proximal end of the receiver member with the longitudinal axis of the anchor extender offset from the central axis of the receiver member;
• and
• distally moving the second member relative to the first member to releasably couple the anchor extender with the receiver member, the moving including aligning the longitudinal axis with the central axis.