Patent ID: 8409213

Claim:
An insertion instrument for inserting an artificial disc device in an intervertebral space, the insertion instrument comprising: a handle having a body; a first actuator lever operably connected to the handle body; a main shaft member operably connected to the handle body having a distal end for securing a portion of the artificial disc device, with the main shaft member configured to be shifted into a receiving and releasing configuration upon pivoting of the first actuator lever and to be shifted to a holding configuration upon release of the first actuator lever; a second actuator operably connected to the handle body; a brace member shiftable by operation of the second actuator between a bracing configuration that braces the artificial disc device to keep the artificial disc device from moving relative to the brace member and a free configuration that allows the artificial disc device to move relative to the brace member; a third actuator operably connected to the handle body; and a steering member operated by the third actuator to change the orientation of the artificial disc device only when the brace member is in the free configuration, with the brace member keeping the artificial disc device from moving relative to the steering member when the brace member is in the bracing configuration so that the steering member cannot chance the orientation of the artificial disc device.