Patent ID: 7608080

Claim:
A device for inserting an implant into a body comprising: a shank; a gripping head at one end of the shank for gripping the implant, the gripping head including a movable jaw and a fixed jaw to engage and hold the implant; an actuating mechanism operatively connected to move the movable jaw, the actuating mechanism including a rotatable member that is axially movable between locked and unlocked positions; wherein in the unlocked position, rotation of the rotatable member causes the movable jaw to move; wherein in the locked position, rotation of the rotatable member is prevented to lock the movable jaw in place; wherein the rotatable member comprises a drive shaft operatively connected with the movable jaw such that rotation of the drive shaft about a longitudinal axis causes the movable jaw to move; and wherein the actuating mechanism further comprises a rotatable control knob disposed at one end of a handle and connected to the drive shaft such that rotation of the control knob rotates the drive shaft.