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:
May. 04, 2010
Filed:
Apr. 29, 2005
Kent Anderson, Memphis, TN (US);
Robert H. Dyer, Bartlett, TN (US);
Kent Anderson, Memphis, TN (US);
Robert H. Dyer, Bartlett, TN (US);
Abstract
An apparatus is provided to hold and orient an implant during a medical procedure and includes an elongated member having an upper member and a lower member with a formed end. A biasing member is operatively positioned between the upper member and lower member and supplies a biasing force to the lower member. A ball joint is provided that includes a ball, and the ball joint accepts the formed end of the lower member. A biasing force is provided by the biasing member to cause the formed end of the lower member to contact the ball. A translation mechanism is used to move the upper member in a first linear direction toward the lower member to cause the formed end of the lower member to lock the ball of the ball joint and, thus, lock the ball joint and orient the ball of the ball joint in a desired position.