Patent ID: 7708743

Claim:
An apparatus for holding and orienting an implant during a medical procedure, said apparatus comprising: a housing having a first end and a second end; an elongated member disposed within said housing, said elongated member comprising an upper member and a lower member, said lower member having a formed end positioned proximate to said second end of said housing; a biasing member operatively positioned between said upper member and said lower member and at least partially wrapped around at least a portion of said upper member and said lower member, said biasing member adapted to supply a biasing force to at least said lower member; a ball joint comprising a ball housed within a ball joint housing positioned at said second end of said housing; a mounting portion connected to said ball and releasably attachable to the implant; and a translation mechanism operatively associated with said first end of said housing and said upper member, wherein said biasing force normally biases said formed end of said lower member in contact with said ball while permitting said ball to be moved to a first desired position and held in said first desired position with said biasing force, said translation mechanism adapted to move said upper member in at least a first linear direction toward said lower member causing said formed end of said lower member to lock said ball of said ball joint whereby locking said ball joint and orienting said implant in at least said first desired position.