Patent ID: 8721686

Claim:
A system, comprising: an implant, wherein the implant comprises: a first portion, a second portion opposite the first portion, and a locking mechanism coupling the first portion to the second portion; and a primary instrument; wherein the system has an insertion configuration, a clamped configuration, and a first locked configuration; wherein, in the insertion configuration, the primary instrument holds the first portion apart from the second portion; wherein the primary instrument urges the first portion toward the second portion to change the system from the insertion configuration to the clamped configuration, wherein the primary instrument permits the first portion to polyaxially rotate relative to the second portion as the first portion is urged toward the second portion; wherein, in the clamped configuration, the primary instrument holds the first portion fixed relative to the second portion; wherein the primary instrument maintains the first portion fixed relative to the second portion as a first component of the locking mechanism is urged from an unlocked position to a first locked position to change the system from the clamped configuration to the first locked configuration; wherein, in the first locked configuration, the first component maintains the first portion fixed relative to the second portion; wherein the primary instrument comprises a selector, wherein, in the insertion and clamped configurations, the selector is in a first position, wherein, in the first locked configuration, the selector is in a second position, wherein, when the selector is in the first position, the system is prevented from changing to the first locked configuration, wherein, when the selector is in the second position, the system is permitted to change to the first locked configuration.