Patent ID: 7758583

Claim:
A surgical instrument for positioning an osteochondral plug within a bone defect site, the surgical instrument comprising: an elongate shaft having proximal and distal ends, and a longitudinal axis extending therebetween, the distal end of the elongate shaft being configured to contact an osteochondral plug; and a ribbon extending along the elongate shaft and forming a loop at the distal end of the elongate shaft, wherein when in use, the loop is sized to secure the osteochondral plug to the distal end of the elongate shaft, and, a locking mechanism disposed adjacent the proximal end of the elongate shaft for securing the ribbon to the elongate shaft, wherein said locking mechanism includes a clamp and a bolt mounted to the clamp, the bolt being longitudinally movable between a proximal unlocked position wherein said ribbon is not locked and a distal locked position wherein said bolt engages and secures one of two end portions of said ribbon between the bolt and the clamp, wherein the ribbon includes a first end portion secured by the clamp when the bolt is in the proximal unlocked position and in the distal locked position and, opposite thereto, a second end portion which is releasably secured by the bolt, wherein when in an the unlocked position the locking mechanism allows the ribbon to be removed from the elongate shaft.