Patent ID: 8097027

Claim:
A system, comprising an elongated spinal rod; an insertion instrument comprising an articulatable implant holder adjacent a distal end thereof releasably clampable about said spinal rod, wherein said implant holder is movable from a first position wherein said spinal rod has a reduced profile orientation relative to said insertion instrument for insertion of said spinal rod to a surgical space in a patient to a second position wherein said spinal rod has an enlarged profile relative to said insertion instrument for positioning said spinal rod at the surgical space, wherein said implant holder includes: an articulating member pivotally mounted to a distal end of said insertion instrument and a pair of clamping members pivotally mounted to said articulating member; a locking system including a pair of engagement members actuatable from said articulating member into contact with respective ones of said pair of clamping members with said locking system in said locked position; and wherein said locking system includes a cam member in said implant holder, said cam member movable from a first position wherein said pair of engagement members are recessed in said articulating member to a second position wherein said cam member biases said pair of engagement members outwardly from said articulating member into contact with said pair of clamping members.