Patent ID: 7559930

Claim:
A surgical tool for positioning an intervertebral device between vertebral members, the surgical tool comprising: an elongate shaft having proximal and distal ends defining a first longitudinal axis extending therebetween, the distal end of the elongate shaft comprising an engagement member adapted to releasably engage an intervertebral device; an anti-rotation sleeve having proximal and distal ends, the anti-rotation sleeve being movably mounted to the elongate shaft and reciprocating relative thereto between a retracted position and an extended position, the distal end of the anti-rotation sleeve comprising an anti-rotation member; an actuation mechanism for controlling positioning and reciprocation of the anti-rotation sleeve relative to the elongate shaft between the retracted position and the extended position and for locking the anti-rotation sleeve relative to the elongate shaft, wherein when the intervertebral device is releasably engaged by the engagement member at the distal end of the elongate shaft, and the anti-rotation sleeve is in the extended position, the anti-rotation member at the distal end of the anti-rotation sleeve engages the intervertebral device and prevents rotation of the intervertebral device when releasing the engagement member from engagement with the intervertebral device; and wherein the actuation mechanism comprises at least one spring-biased latch mechanism for locking the anti-rotation sleeve relative to the elongate shaft, and when compressively engaged, allows for reciprocation of the anti-rotation sleeve relative to the elongate shaft between the retracted and extended positions, the at least one spring-biased latch mechanism comprising at least one spring-biased latch member in spring-biased contact with the anti-rotation sleeve for locking the anti-rotation sleeve relative to the elongated shaft.