Patent ID: 8308734

Claim:
An apparatus having a longitudinal axis for inserting a spinal implant between vertebrae, the apparatus comprising: a handle structure having a passage therethrough; a shaft moveable within the passage; a pair of paddles, each of the pair of paddles having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal ends of the paddles connected to the handle structure, and each of the pair of paddles having a stop structure that extends generally away from the longitudinal axis at a location proximate to the distal end, the paddles converging along the longitudinal axis toward the distal ends, wherein at least one of the pair of paddles defines a slot that extends generally parallel to the longitudinal axis; a pusher block movably coupled with respect to the shaft and positioned between the pair of paddles, the pusher block having a forward surface configured to engage the spinal implant; and an ejector rod having at least one arm that is configured to slide along the slot, the at least one arm defining a side that faces the distal end and is configured to abut one of the vertebrae when the implant is inserted between the vertebrae, such that the at least one arm defines a distance between the side and the forward surface of the pusher block, wherein the ejector rod is adjustably mounted to the pusher block so as to correspondingly adjust the distance, wherein the ejector rod, the pusher block and the shaft are movable along a direction generally parallel to the longitudinal axis such that the at least one arm slides along the slot, and at least one of the pair of paddles moves away from the other of the pair of paddles as the pusher block moves from the proximal end to the distal end such that a gap is formed between the distal ends, the gap being sized to accommodate passage of the implant between the distal end of each of the pair of paddles.