Patent ID: 7632281

Claim:
An apparatus for manipulating a preparation device for preparing an intervertebral space, the apparatus comprising: an extension having a longitudinal axis; at least two prongs coupled to a fulcrum located at a distal extension end of the extension, each of the prongs having a prong extension, the prong extensions together defining a contractable and expandable holding enclosure for holding the preparation device; and a sleeve that surrounds at least a portion of the distal extension end including the fulcrum and at least a portion of the two prongs, the sleeve being collinear with the extension longitudinal axis, fixed in both proximal and distal directions with respect to the longitudinal axis, and rotatable about the extension longitudinal axis; said sleeve having a bore that extends along the longitudinal axis of the extension, the bore defining a crosssection on a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the extension, the crosssection having a width that is greater than a depth, wherein when the sleeve is rotated about the extension longitudinal axis the sleeve remains longitudinally fixed and the sides of the bore defining the depth of the crosssection bear on at least one of the prongs to move the holding enclosure to a contracted state in which the preparation device cannot be removed from the holding enclosure.