Patent 7722622 was granted and assigned to Synthes on May, 2010 by the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
An apparatus for use with a spinal implant includes a handle structure with a passage. A shaft with a screw thread that is moveable within the passage in the handle structure. A pusher block is linked to the shaft, and has a forward surface configured to engage the spinal implant. A screw-threaded clutch member is supported on the handle structure for movement into and out of engagement with the screw thread on the shaft.