The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 25, 1995
Filed:
Aug. 09, 1993
Scott A Jones, Eighty Four, PA (US);
Thomas A Mutschler, Pittsburgh, PA (US);
Gary Ferguson, Pittsburgh, PA (US);
Stelkast Incorporated, Pittsburgh, PA (US);
Abstract
The present invention provides a system for inserting and removing an implant comprising an implant and a tool. The implant has a protrusion, preferably triangular, extending from its proximal end. A tool designed for engaging the protrusion has a shaft, a sleeve and an actuation assembly. A cavity for receiving and lockingly engaging the protrusion on the implant is formed in the distal end of the shaft. The sleeve has a flattened surface in its interior configured to confront a complementary flattened surface on the shaft to constrain the shaft and the sleeve against rotation relative to each other. The actuation assembly moves the sleeve back and forth along the shaft to position the shaft into an extended position wherein the cavity is exposed or into a retracted position wherein the cavity, and the protrusion when it is seated in the cavity, are captured in the sleeve. A spring is provided in the actuation assembly for biasing the sleeve distally toward an open end of the shaft to move the shaft and the cavity in a normally retracted position within the sleeve.