Patent ID: 9370383
Filing Date: 2016-06-21
CPC Classification: A61B

Claim Text:
1. A tool for facilitating minimally invasive surgical procedures, the tool comprising: first and second outer blades each having a distal end and a proximal end, the first and second outer blades each having an attachment mechanism disposed at the distal end for coupling to the first and second outer blades to an implant; first and second inner blades each having a distal end and a proximal end, the first and second inner blades operable to slidingly engage the first and second outer blades, wherein the first and second inner blades have an unlocked position and a locked position with respect to the first and second outer blades; a channel formed between the first inner and outer blades and the second inner and outer blades, the channel extending along an entire length of the first and second inner and outer blades; and a hollow connector releasably coupled to the proximal end of the first and second inner blades, wherein a proximal end of the channel is blocked when the hollow connector is coupled to the first and second inner blades and wherein the proximal end of the channel is unblocked when the hollow connector is removed from the first and second inner blades, wherein: the first and second outer blades each comprise an alignment bore in the proximal end; the first and second inner blades each comprise an alignment window in the proximal end that overlaps with the alignment bore; and a turret rotationally coupled to each of the alignment bores the turret comprising a protrusion that is movable in the alignment window, such that rotation of the turret causes movement of the of protrusion that causes the corresponding first and second inner blades to move between the unlocked position and locked position, wherein the turret comprises an inside portion and an outside portion connected by a beam and wherein a cylindrical gap is formed by the inside portion, the outside portion and the beam.