Medical device installation tool

A medical device installation tool, comprising:

• a body having a bore extending therethrough;
• a drive rod adapted to extend through the bore, the drive rod having a proximal end and a distal end with threads formed on at least a portion of a surface thereof;
• and
• a pair of opposed levers, each having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of each lever being pivotally coupled to a portion of the body;
• and
• the body having at least a partial female thread formed in at least a portion of the bore, the female thread being selectively engageable in (1) a drive rod rotation configuration in which the female thread is engaged with the threads on the rod to permit longitudinal translation of the rod upon rotation of the rod and (2) a translation configuration in which the female thread is disengaged from the threads on the rod to permit longitudinal translation of the rod upon translation of the rod without rotation of the rod.

A method for implanting a prosthetic device, comprising:

• disposing portions of opposed, pivotable levers of an installation tool between vertebral bodies;
• advancing the prosthesis toward a distal end of the installation tool by longitudinal movement of the drive rod without rotation of the drive rod;
• establishing a threaded connection between a portion of the drive rod and a portion of the installation tool to enable longitudinal translation of the prosthesis upon rotation of the drive rod;
• and
• rotating the drive rod to longitudinally advance the prosthesis to an implantation site.