Patent ID: 9044344
Filing Date: 2015-06-02
Classification: A61B,A61F

Abstract:
1. An insertion instrument for inserting an orthopedic implant into a bone and guiding an implant attachment element into the bone comprising: a body having a first end and a second end and a bore extending along a central axis, the body having a frontwardly and a rearwardly facing surface, the body second end having an open portion extending between the frontwardly facing surface and the rearwardly facing surface; a fixed arm and a deflectable arm coupled to the body second end, the fixed arm at least partially spaced from the deflectable arm by the open portion, the bore in body forming an attachment element receiving passageway extending along the central axis of the body, the fixed arm and the deflectable arm each having an implant engaging element at a free end spaced from the central axis, the deflectable arm defined by a pair of slits located intermediate the body frontwardly and rearwardly facing surfaces and extending to the open portion; and an actuator mounted on the first end of the body for moving the deflectable arm away from the bore central axis in a direction away from the open portion so that the deflectable arm implant engaging element moves away from the central axis while allowing the attachment element to traverse the passageway, the implant engaging element of the fixed arm remaining a constant distance from the central axis while the deflectable arm implant engaging element moves away from the central axis.