Implant insertion device
First Claim
1. An implant insertion device, comprising:
- a handle;
a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, said proximal end attached to said handle;
a pair of jaws each having a first end attached to said distal end of said shaft and a free second end, each of said free ends including a gripping element, said free ends of said jaws movable between gripping positions to grasp the implant between said gripping elements and releasing positions to release the implant, said first ends of said jaws forming a first angle in said releasing positions and a smaller second angle in said gripping positions,a substantially uniform gripping surface defined on each said gripping element, said gripping surfaces facing one another to contact only the surface of the implant when said jaws are in the gripping positions; and
an actuator operable on said jaws to force said jaws together towards said gripping positions, said actuator includes a hollow sleeve slidably mounted on said shaft and defining an inner bore for receiving said shaft and said first ends of said jaws, said sleeve slidable between a first position adjacent said handle and a second engaging position spaced from said first position in a location between said first position and said free ends of said jaws, said sleeve forcing said jaws together when said sleeve is in the engaging position.
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Accused Products
Abstract
One embodiment of an implant insertion device includes a handle, a shaft having a proximal end attached to the handle and a distal end and a pair of jaws each having a first end attached to the distal end of the shaft, a free second end and a gripping element at the second end. The free ends of the jaws are movable between gripping positions to grasp the implant between the gripping elements and releasing positions to release the implant. The jaws are biased apart to the releasing positions. Each of the gripping elements defines a substantially uniform or flat gripping surface. In some embodiments the gripping surfaces include teeth. The gripping surfaces face one another to contact the surface of the implant when the jaws are in the gripping positions. The devices of this invention also include a hollow sleeve slidably disposed over the jaws for forcing the jaws together towards the gripping positions.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. An implant insertion device, comprising:
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a handle; a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, said proximal end attached to said handle; a pair of jaws each having a first end attached to said distal end of said shaft and a free second end, each of said free ends including a gripping element, said free ends of said jaws movable between gripping positions to grasp the implant between said gripping elements and releasing positions to release the implant, said first ends of said jaws forming a first angle in said releasing positions and a smaller second angle in said gripping positions, a substantially uniform gripping surface defined on each said gripping element, said gripping surfaces facing one another to contact only the surface of the implant when said jaws are in the gripping positions; and an actuator operable on said jaws to force said jaws together towards said gripping positions, said actuator includes a hollow sleeve slidably mounted on said shaft and defining an inner bore for receiving said shaft and said first ends of said jaws, said sleeve slidable between a first position adjacent said handle and a second engaging position spaced from said first position in a location between said first position and said free ends of said jaws, said sleeve forcing said jaws together when said sleeve is in the engaging position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification