Patent ID: 8066714
Filing Date: 2011-11-29
Classification: A61B,A61F,Y10S

Abstract:
1. A system for implant delivery to a space between adjacent bony portions, comprising: an implant positionable in the space; a handle assembly including a mounting portion and an actuating portion; a pair of opposing guide members coupled to said mounting portion, each of said guide members including a body extending along an insertion axis between a distal end and a proximal end and having an outer surface and an opposite guide surface, said guide surfaces being oriented toward one another and said distal ends are positionable in the space, wherein said proximal ends are pivotally coupled to said mounting portion in a corresponding recess of said mounting portion, and further comprising a spring in each recess extending between said mounting portion and a respective one of said guide members at a location proximal of said pivotal coupling of said respective guide member so that said springs bias said distal ends of said guide members toward one another about said pivotal coupling location, each of said guide members further including a projection at said proximal end thereof extending outwardly away from one another and projecting from said corresponding recess of said mounting portion to provide access to said guide member for applying a manual force to pivot said distal ends of said guide members away from one another; a spreader positioned between said pair of guide members, said spreader including a central body movable along said guide members between said distal and proximal ends with said implant positioned forwardly of said spreader; and a drive member assembly coupled to said handle assembly and said spreader, said drive member assembly including a drive member linearly movable along said insertion axis by operation of said actuating portion of said handle assembly, said drive member including a distal coupling portion at a distal end of said drive member having a cross-sectional shape that includes three overlapping circular portions with a middle circular portion being larger than circular portions on each side thereof, wherein said spreader includes a central bore for receiving said distal coupling portion of said drive member, said central bore including a proximal portion extending from a proximal opening of said central bore to a distal portion of said bore, said proximal portion having a shape that corresponds to said cross-sectional shape of said distal coupling portion so that said distal coupling portion passes linearly therethrough in a predetermined orientation of said drive member relative to said spreader, said distal portion of said central bore having an interrupted circular shape that receives and permits said distal coupling portion to rotate therein to a rotated position upon rotation of said drive member relative to said spreader to lock said drive member to said spreader, wherein said coupling portion cannot pass from said distal portion into said proximal portion of said central bore when in said rotated position.