Spinal artificial disc removal tool

An artificial spinal disc extraction tool for removing an installed artificial spinal disc from between vertebrae comprising:

• an upper member having an upper body;
• a first upper arm extending distally from the upper body;
• a first upper tine extending distally from a distal end of the first upper arm, wherein the first upper tine comprises a tip portion which tapers in thickness such that the distal end of the first upper tine is thinner than a proximal portion of the first upper tine and wherein the first upper tine comprises a first upper keel tab which extends laterally from the distal end of the first upper tine;
• a lower member having a lower body;
• a first lower arm extending distally from the lower body;
• a first lower tine extending distally from a distal end of the first lower arm, wherein the first lower tine comprises a tip portion which tapers in thickness such that the distal end of the first lower tine is thinner than a proximal portion of the first upper tine and wherein the first lower tine comprises a first lower keel tab which extends laterally from the distal end of the first lower tine;
• and and;
• wherein the extraction tool is used by inserting the first upper tine between an artificial disc upper bone attachment surface and an attached vertebra and by inserting the first lower tine between an artificial disc lower bone attachment surface and an attached vertebra wherein the first upper keel tab is positioned behind an artificial disc upper keel and the first lower keel tab is positioned behind an artificial disc lower keel to thereby engage the artificial disc to remove the artificial disc from a vertebrae.

An artificial spinal disc extraction tool for removing an installed artificial spinal disc from between vertebrae comprising:

• an upper member comprising;
• an elongate body having a proximal end and a distal end;
• a first upper arm which is attached to the distal end of the body and which extends distally from the distal end of the body;
• a first upper tine which is attached to the distal end of the first upper arm and which extends distally from the first upper arm, the first upper tine comprising an upper bone contacting surface and a lower artificial disc contacting surface;
• wherein a tip portion of the first upper tine tapers in thickness such that a distal end of the first upper tine has a thickness which is less than a thickness of the first upper tine;
• a lower member comprising;
• an elongate body having a proximal end and a distal end;
• a first lower arm which is attached to the distal end of the body and which extends distally from the distal end of the body;
• a first lower tine which is attached to the distal end of the first lower arm and which extends distally from the first lower arm, the first lower tine comprising an upper artificial disc contacting surface and a lower bone contacting surface;
• wherein a tip portion of the first lower tine tapers in thickness such that a distal end of the first lower tine has a thickness which is less than a thickness of the first lower tine;
• and
• wherein, in use, the first upper tine is inserted between an artificial disc upper bone attachment surface and an upper vertebra such that the upper bone contacting surface contacts a lower surface of the upper vertebra and the lower artificial disc contacting surface contacts an upper surface of the artificial disc and wherein the first upper tine separates the artificial disc from the upper vertebra and wherein the first lower tine is inserted between an artificial disc lower bone attachment surface and a lower vertebra such that the upper artificial disc contacting surface contacts an upper surface of the artificial disc and the lower bone contacting surface contacts an upper surface of the lower vertebra and wherein the first lower tine separates the artificial disc from the lower vertebra and wherein the extraction tool is configured to remove the artificial disc from the vertebrae.

An artificial spinal disc extraction tool for removing an installed artificial spinal disc from between vertebrae comprising:

• a first member having a body;
• a first arm extending distally from the body;
• a first tine extending distally from a distal end of the first arm;
• a first keel tab extending laterally from a distal end of the first tine;
• a second arm extending distally from the body;
• a second tine extending distally from a distal end of the second arm;
• an actuator which is selectively movable to thereby move the first tine laterally towards and away from the second tine;
• wherein, during use of the extraction tool, the first tine is movable laterally relative to the second tine wherein the lateral movement of the first arm positions the first keel tab adjacent a distal end of an artificial disc keel to thereby engage an artificial disc keel and thereby grasp the artificial disc.

An artificial spinal disc extraction tool for removing an installed artificial spinal disc from between vertebrae comprising:

• an upper member having a body;
• a first upper tine extending distally from the upper member body, the first upper tine having an upper bone contacting surface, a lower artificial disc contacting surface disposed opposite the upper bone contacting surface, a thickness between the upper bone contacting surface and the lower artificial disc contacting surface, a width which is greater than the thickness, and a length which is greater than the thickness;
• a lower member having a body;
• a first lower tine extending distally from the lower member body, the first lower tine having an upper artificial disc contacting surface disposed parallel to the upper tine lower bone contacting surface wherein the upper disc contacting surface and the lower disc contacting surface are disposed inwardly between the upper tine and lower tine, a lower bone contacting surface disposed opposite the upper disc contacting surface, a thickness between the upper artificial disc contacting surface and the lower bone contacting surface, a width which is greater than the thickness, and a length which is greater than the thickness, wherein the upper bone contacting surface and the lower bone contacting surface are disposed outwardly on the upper tine and lower tine;
• and
• wherein the upper tine and lower tine are sized and configured so that, in use, the first upper tine is suitable for insertion between an artificial disc upper bone attachment surface and an upper vertebra such that the upper bone contacting surface contacts a lower surface of the upper vertebra and the lower artificial disc contacting surface contacts an upper surface of the artificial disc and wherein the first upper tine separates the artificial disc from the upper vertebra, and wherein the first lower tine is suitable for insertion between an artificial disc lower bone attachment surface and a lower vertebra such that the upper artificial disc contacting surface contacts an upper surface of the artificial disc and the lower bone contacting surface contacts an upper surface of the lower vertebra and wherein the first lower tine separates the artificial disc from the lower vertebra.