Patent ID: 8500747

Claim:
An instrument for engaging a spinal implant, comprising: a shaft assembly extending between a proximal end and a distal end; an actuator assembly at said proximal end of said shaft assembly; and an engaging assembly at said distal end of said shaft assembly, said engaging assembly including a support member fixedly coupled with said shaft assembly and extending distally therefrom and a clamping member coupled with at least one of said shaft assembly and said support member, said actuator assembly being operably linked to said clamping member with said shaft assembly, wherein said clamping member is movable toward said support member with actuation of said actuator assembly to a clamping position for clampingly engaging the implant between said support member and said clamping member, wherein said support member includes an elongated body with a linear proximal section and a distal section extending from a distal end of said linear proximal section with said distal section angled relative to said proximal section to extend toward said clamping member, said distal section including a flange at a distal end of said support member extending outwardly from said distal section toward said clamping member, said flange forming a lip that extends outwardly from said distal section toward said clamping member so that said lip projects outwardly from said support member and is angled toward said proximal section, wherein said lip is positionable in engagement with the implant, and wherein said clamping member includes a proximal end pivotally coupled with said support member and an intermediate slot linked with said distal end of said shaft assembly distally of where said proximal end of said clamping member is pivotally coupled with said support member, and actuation of said actuator assembly moves a portion of said shaft assembly distally along said intermediate slot and pivots said clamping member about said proximal end thereof toward said support member.