Patent ID: 7491207

Claim:
A surgical instrument for urging a longitudinal spinal member into a top-loading spinal implant, the instrument comprising: a holder assembly for engaging the spinal implant, the holder assembly including a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end including a pair of fingers for engaging the spinal implant, the proximal end of the holder assembly including at least one slot; a release assembly for contacting the longitudinal spinal member; and an actuating member operatively associated with the holder assembly and the release assembly so that actuation of the actuating member moves the holder assembly with respect to the release assembly; wherein the release assembly comprises a tubular member and a pusher member, the tubular member being slidably disposed within the holder assembly, and the pusher member slidably surrounding at least a portion of the holder assembly, the tubular member including a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of the tubular member including a first pair of slots and a second pair of slots, the pusher member including a recess for engaging the longitudinal spinal member so that movement of the holder assembly with respect to the release assembly urges the spinal member into engagement with the spinal implant; and wherein the actuating member includes a first tip and a second tip, the first tip engaging the at least one slot formed on the proximal end of the holder assembly and the second tip engaging the first pair of slots formed on the proximal end of the tubular member and the second pair of slots aligning with the at least one slot formed on the holder assembly when the release assembly is inserted into the holder assembly.