Instrumentation and method for facilitating insertion of spinal implant
First Claim
1. A vertebral spacer apparatus, which comprises:
- an elongated member having proximal and distal end portions and defining a longitudinal axis; and
a vertebral spacer releasably mounted to the elongated member, the vertebral spacer including an insertion end portion and a trailing end portion, the insertion end portion configured to at least span an intervertebral space defined between adjacent vertebrae to supportingly maintain the adjacent vertebrae in predetermined spaced relation, the trailing end portion defining a transverse dimension transverse to the longitudinal axis greater than a corresponding transverse dimension of the insertion end portion and being sized to prevent entry thereof within the intervertebral space, the insertion end portion having a first stationary spacer arm and a second stationary spacer arm, the first and second stationary spacer arms each defining first and second supporting surfaces for respectively engaging the adjacent vertebrae, wherein a dimension defined between the first and second supporting surfaces is sufficient to at least span an intervertebral space defined between adjacent vertebrae.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A vertebral spacer apparatus includes an elongated member having proximal and distal end portions and defining a longitudinal axis and a vertebral spacer which is releasably mounted to the elongated member. The vertebral spacer includes an insertion end portion and a trailing end portion. The insertion end portion is configured to at least span an intervertebral space defined between adjacent vertebrae. The trailing end portion defines a dimension greater than a corresponding dimension of the insertion end portion and is sized to prevent entry thereof within the intervertebral space.
The insertion end portion preferably includes first and second opposed support surfaces wherein a dimension defined between the first and second support surfaces at least spans the intervertebral space between adjacent vertebrae. A method for implanting a fusion implant with the vertebral spacer apparatus is also disclosed.
507 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A vertebral spacer apparatus, which comprises:
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an elongated member having proximal and distal end portions and defining a longitudinal axis; and a vertebral spacer releasably mounted to the elongated member, the vertebral spacer including an insertion end portion and a trailing end portion, the insertion end portion configured to at least span an intervertebral space defined between adjacent vertebrae to supportingly maintain the adjacent vertebrae in predetermined spaced relation, the trailing end portion defining a transverse dimension transverse to the longitudinal axis greater than a corresponding transverse dimension of the insertion end portion and being sized to prevent entry thereof within the intervertebral space, the insertion end portion having a first stationary spacer arm and a second stationary spacer arm, the first and second stationary spacer arms each defining first and second supporting surfaces for respectively engaging the adjacent vertebrae, wherein a dimension defined between the first and second supporting surfaces is sufficient to at least span an intervertebral space defined between adjacent vertebrae. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14)
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12. A vertebral spacer apparatus for maintaining a predetermined spacial distance between adjacent vertebrae during implant insertion comprising:
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an elongated member having proximal and distal end portions, and defining a longitudinal axis; and a vertebral spacer releasably mounted to the distal end portion of the elongated member, the vertebral spacer including a trailing end portion and an insertion end portion, the trailing end portion sized to prevent entry thereof within the intervertebral space, the trailing end portion having a circular cross-sectional dimension transverse to the longitudinal axis and defining a radius of curvature, the insertion end portion including a pair of opposed stationary arms extending along the longitudinal axis, the stationary arms having arcuate external surfaces extending from the trailing end portion with each external surface defining a radius of curvature substantially equal to the radius of curvature of the trailing end portion, the stationary arms each having a pair of parallel substantially planar upper and lower supporting surfaces for respectively engaging upper and lower vertebrae portions with the adjacent vertebrae to create a temporary span between the adjacent vertebrae.
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Specification