Instruments and techniques for spinal disc space preparation
AssigneeSDGI Holdings, Inc.
InventorBret M. Berry
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A milling instrument assembly (15) is provided for vertebral endplate preparation along a cutting path obliquely oriented to the axis of approach to the vertebra. The milling instrument assembly (15) provides control of the anterior-posterior depth of endplate removal by guiding cutting assembly (120) in the disc space as it moves transversely across a housing assembly (16.) Methods and techniques are included for using the milling instrument assembly (15) in spinal surgery.
Claims45
An instrument for preparation of an endplate of a vertebra of a spinal column, comprising:
- a housing positionable adjacent the vertebra;
- a block proximal said housing;
- and
- a cutting assembly extending through said block and into said housing, wherein the instrument defines a longitudinal axis extending from the vertebra when the housing is positioned adjacent the vertebra, said cutting assembly being guidable across said block along a cutting path on the endplate extending transversely to said longitudinal axis, at least a portion of said cutting path being obliquely oriented to said longitudinal axis.
An instrument for preparation of an endplate of a vertebra of a spinal column, comprising:
- a housing assembly positionable adjacent the vertebra;
- and
- a cutting assembly extendable through said housing assembly, wherein the instrument defines a longitudinal axis extending from the vertebra when said housing assembly is positioned adjacent the vertebra, wherein said cutting assembly is transversely guidable along a guide surface of said housing assembly, at least a portion of said guide surface being obliquely oriented to said longitudinal axis.
An instrument for preparation of an endplate of a vertebra of a spinal column, comprising:
- a housing assembly positionable adjacent the vertebra;
- and
- a cutting assembly extending through said housing assembly, wherein the instrument defines a longitudinal axis extending from the vertebra when said housing assembly is positioned adjacent the vertebra;
- and
- means for guiding said cutting assembly relative to said housing assembly along a cutting path extending transversely to said longitudinal axis, at least a portion of said cutting path being obliquely oriented to said longitudinal axis.
An instrument for preparation of an endplate of a vertebra of a spinal column, comprising:
- a housing assembly positionable adjacent the vertebra;
- and
- a cutting assembly extendable through said housing assembly;
- a guide assembly coupling said cutting assembly to said housing assembly, wherein the instrument defines a longitudinal axis from the spinal column when said housing assembly is positioned adjacent the vertebra;
- and
- said guide assembly being transversely movable relative to said longitudinal axis along a guide surface of said housing assembly to move said cutting assembly transversely along a cutting path, at least a portion of said guide surface and said cutting path being obliquely oriented to said longitudinal axis.
A method for preparing endplates of adjacent vertebrae for insertion of an implant in a disc space between the adjacent vertebrae, comprising:
- accessing the disc space along an axis that extends generally in an anterior oblique direction relative to a sagittal plane of the adjacent vertebrae;
- milling at least one endplate in side-to-side movement along a path having at least a portion obliquely oriented to the axis.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.