Patent ID: 8343164

Claim:
An apparatus for inserting a spinal implant, comprising: a first elongate member including a first jaw member disposed at a distal portion thereof, wherein the first jaw member defines a first longitudinal axis; a second elongate member operatively connected to the first elongate member and including a second jaw member disposed at a distal portion thereof, the second jaw member defining a second longitudinal axis, wherein the first and second elongate members are adapted to move the first and second jaw members between a first position where the first and second longitudinal axes are oriented substantially parallel to each other and a second position where the first and second longitudinal axes are oriented at an acute angle with respect to each other; and a locking mechanism adapted to releasably fix a relative position of the first and second elongate members, the locking mechanism including: a first section slidably disposed on the first elongate member, the first section including a guiding member adapted for facilitating translation along the first elongate member; and a second section affixed to the second elongate member, wherein the first elongate member includes a slot extending therealong, the slot being configured for slidably receiving the guiding member and guiding the translation of the first section of the locking mechanism along the first elongate member.