Articulated delivery instrument

1. An instrument comprising:

a body portion having a first distal end and a first proximal end coupled by a first longitudinal axis;

an actuator portion having a second distal end and a second proximal end coupled by a second longitudinal axis that is substantially parallel to said first longitudinal axis;

a threaded rotational member threadingly engaged to a threaded portion of one of said first and second proximal ends, wherein a longitudinal position of said threaded rotational member relative to said body and actuator portions is fixed with respect to another one of said body and actuator portions;

rotatable first and second fastening members movably coupled to said body and actuator portions, wherein said first and second fastening members are rotatable from a first position to a second position around a pivot axis that is substantially perpendicular to said first longitudinal axis, wherein said first and second fastening members are separated by a space designed to receive a portion of an interbody insert therein;

said first and second fastening members are movably coupled to said body and actuator portions to enable a distance along said pivot axis between said first and second fastening members to be varied;

an actuator rod having a third distal end and a third proximal end coupled by a third longitudinal axis that is substantially parallel to said first longitudinal axis; and

a trigger pivotally coupled to said body portion and said actuator rod.

2. The instrument of claim 1 wherein said actuator rod is positioned between said body portion and said actuator portion.

3. The instrument of claim 1 wherein said first fastening member includes a first inner surface facing a second inner surface of said second fastening member, and wherein said first and second fastening members are movably coupled to said body and actuator portions to enable said distance along said pivot axis between said first and second inner surfaces to be varied.

4. The instrument of claim 3 wherein said third distal end includes a wedge sized to enter said space between said first and second inner surfaces to vary said distance between said first and second inner surfaces when said third distal end is moved relative to said first distal end.

5. The instrument of claim 1 wherein said threaded rotational member is fixed with respect to said one of said body and actuator portions by a pin positioned substantially perpendicularly to said first or second longitudinal axis, respectively.

6. An instrument for delivering an insert, said instrument comprising:

a body;

a sliding actuator translatingly coupled to said body;

a rotating member pivotally connected to a distal end of said body and said sliding actuator and configured to releasably retain an insert, wherein said rotating member includes a first grasping member and a second grasping member, wherein said first grasping member and said second grasping member are configured to translate relative to one another along a central axis of said pivotal connection to one of said body and said sliding actuator;

a first actuator having a threaded member operatively coupled to said body and said sliding actuator, wherein rotation of said threaded member translates said sliding actuator with respect to said body, and wherein translation of said sliding actuator with respect to said body rotates said rotating member about said pivotal connections; and

a second actuator operatively coupled to said rotating member and configured to transition said rotating member between release and retention of the insert.

7. The instrument of claim 6

wherein said second actuator operates to translate said first grasping member relative to said second grasping member between a first position and a second position; and

wherein a first distance between said first grasping member and said second grasping member in said first position is greater than a second distance between said first grasping member and said second grasping member in said second position.

8. The instrument of claim 7 wherein

said second actuator further comprises a wedging member; and

wherein operating said second actuator slidingly interfaces said wedging member with said rotating member such that said first grasping member and said second grasping member are translated between said first position and said second position.

9. The instrument of claim 7 wherein said first grasping member and said second grasping member each comprise a protrusion configured to releasably retain the insert.

10. The instrument of claim 6 wherein said threaded member comprises a knob positioned at a proximal end of said body and said sliding actuator.

11. A delivery instrument for an insert, said instrument comprising:

a body;

a sliding actuator slidably engaged with said body;

a threaded first actuator rotatably interacting with said body and said sliding actuator such that rotation of said first actuator translates said sliding actuator relative to said body;

a first grasping member and a second grasping member that each comprise a first protrusion, a second protrusion, and a central pivot, wherein each of said first grasping member and said second grasping member rotates in a plane of rotation about said central pivots;

a second actuator configured to interact with said first grasping member and said second grasping member such that operation of said second actuator causes said first grasping member and said second grasping member to approach and withdraw from one another in a direction transverse to said plane of rotation;

wherein said first protrusions are configured to engage the insert;

wherein said central pivots are pivotally connected to said body;

wherein said second protrusions are pivotally connected to said sliding actuator; and

wherein translation of said sliding actuator translating relative to said body rotates said first grasping member and said second grasping member about said central pivots in said plane of rotation.

12. The instrument of claim 11 wherein said first actuator comprises a knob threadably engaged with a proximal end of said body;

wherein said knob is slidingly coupled to said sliding actuator via a pin attached to said sliding actuator and a groove within said knob; and

wherein rotating said knob translates said sliding actuator relative to said body.

13. The instrument of claim 11 wherein said second actuator comprises a wedging member slidingly interacting with said first grasping member and said second grasping member; and wherein operating said second actuator inserts and withdraws said wedging member between said first grasping member and said second grasping member.

14. The instrument of claim 13 wherein said second actuator further comprises a link and a handle member;

wherein said handle member is pivotally connected to said body;

wherein said wedging member is pivotally coupled to said handle via said link; and

wherein operating said handle member translates said wedging member relative to said first grasping member and said second grasping member.