Patent ID: 8439922

Claim:
A guide assembly for introducing a bone anchor to an operative target site, comprising: an outer sleeve having a distal anchor engaging end, a proximal end, and a central passage extending from the distal end to the proximal end; an inner sleeve situated in the central passage of the outer sleeve, wherein a portion of the inner sleeve extends beyond the proximal end of the outer sleeve and further wherein the inner sleeve is moveable between a first position permitting insertion of the bone anchor in the central passage to a second position releasably fixing the bone anchor to the guide assembly; and a locking mechanism to prevent the inner sleeve from moving from the second position until the locking mechanism is disengaged, wherein the locking mechanism comprises a first set of teeth fashioned on the proximal end of the outer sleeve and a second set of teeth complementary to the first set of teeth and fashioned on the portion of the inner sleeve extending beyond the proximal end of the outer sleeve and facing the first set of teeth.