Patent ID: 7981116

Claim:
A surgical inserter comprising: a handle comprising: a base portion; and a locking sleeve mounted on said base portion; a body portion operatively connected to said handle, said body portion comprising: a plurality of arms pivotally attached to one another, wherein each arm comprises a substantially semi-circular bifurcated wall having a substantially flat surface with a prong outwardly extending from a middle portion of said wall, wherein each said prong comprises a fixed tip portion operatively connected to each arm of said body portion and extending from a block portion comprising a tapered end connecting to planar side surfaces, wherein when said plurality of arms are squeezed together, the arms form a substantially cylindrical shape such that an outer lateral edge of each said prong extends beyond a width defined by a diameter of said cylindrical shape, and wherein a width of an entirety of said block portion is approximately half of said width defined by said diameter of said cylindrical shape; and a bias element mounted in at least one of said plurality of arms, wherein said body portion consists of radiolucent materials and said locking sleeve is slidably mounted around at least one of said plurality of arms.