Endplate shaping device

A vertebral body milling device for creating a contoured disc space between adjacent vertebral bodies of the spine, each of the adjacent vertebral bodies having a vertebral endplate adjacent to the disc space, comprising:

• i) a milling block comprising:
• a) a front face for placement against the vertebral bodies,
• b) an opposite back face having a back opening having a width, and
• c) a housing formed between the front and back faces, and
• ii) a bone removal device for contouring vertebral endplates, comprising:
• a) a distal cutting element having a width and disposed distal the front face of the milling block,
• b) an intermediate element housed within the housing, and
• c) a proximal longitudinal element having a distal portion disposed in the back opening,
• wherein the width of the distal cutting element is greater than the width of the back opening.

A vertebral body milling device for creating a contoured disc space between adjacent vertebral bodies of the spine, each of the adjacent vertebral bodies having a vertebral endplate adjacent to the disc space, comprising:

• i) a milling block comprising:
• a) a front face for placement against the vertebral bodies,
• b) an opposite back face having a back opening, and
• c) a housing formed between the front and back faces, and
• ii) a bone removal device for contouring vertebral endplates and comprising:
• a) a distal cutting element disposed distal the front face of the milling block,
• b) an intermediate element housed within the housing, and
• c) a proximal longitudinal element having a distal portion disposed in the back opening,
• wherein the back opening of the milling block substantially conforms to the distal portion of the longitudinal element of the bone removal device.

A milling block for use in a vertebral body milling device for creating a contoured disc space between adjacent vertebral bodies of the spine, each of the adjacent vertebral bodies having a vertebral endplate adjacent to the disc space, the milling block comprising:

• a) a front face for placement against the adjacent vertebral bodies,
• b) a first slot formed in a direction substantially perpendicular to the front face and having a diameter, and
• c) a first anchoring pin received in the first slot, and having a proximal portion having a diameter,
• wherein the diameter of the first slot is greater than the diameter of the proximal portion of the first anchoring pin.

A vertebral body milling device for creating a contoured disc space between adjacent vertebral bodies of a spine, comprising:

• i) a milling block comprising:
• a) a front face for placement against the vertebral bodies and having a front opening,
• b) an opposite back face, and
• c) a housing formed between the front and back faces, and
• ii) a bone removal device for contouring vertebral endplates and comprising:
• a) a distal cutting element disposed substantially distal the front face of the milling block, and
• b) a proximal vibration element substantially housed within the housing of the milling block and in connection with the distal cutting element through the front opening of the milling block.

A vertebral body milling device for creating a contoured disc space between adjacent vertebral bodies of the spine, each of the adjacent vertebral bodies having a vertebral endplate adjacent to the disc space, comprising:

• i) a bone removal device for contouring vertebral endplates, comprising:
• a) a distal cutting element,
• b) an intermediate vibration element comprising a proximal face having a recess having a vertical dimension and a lateral dimension, and
• c) a proximal longitudinal element defining a longitudinal axis,
• wherein the distal cutting element vibrates in a direction essentially lateral to the longitudinal axis.

A bone removal device for contouring vertebral endplates, comprising:

• i) a vibration element comprising:
• a) a proximal face having a recess forming lateral inner side walls, and upper and lower walls,
• b) a distal face having an attachment means for connecting to a cutting element,
• ii) a longitudinal element having a distal end having an eccentric projection,
• wherein the eccentric projection is received in the recess of the vibration element, and
• wherein rotation of the longitudinal element causes the eccentric projection to contact substantially only the lateral inner sidewalls of the recess.

A vertebral body milling device for creating a contoured disc space between adjacent vertebral bodies of the spine, each of the adjacent vertebral bodies having a vertebral endplate adjacent to the disc space, comprising:

• i) a milling block comprising:
• a) an upper shell having a front half-face, a back half-face, and an inside attachment surface connecting the half-faces,
• b) a lower shell having a front half-face, a back half-face, and an inside attachment surface connecting the half-faces,
• wherein the inside attachment surface of the upper shell is substantially aligned with the inside attachment surface of the lower shell.

A method of creating a contoured disc space between adjacent vertebral bodies of a spine, each of the adjacent vertebral bodies having a vertebral endplate adjacent to the disc space and an anterior lip, comprising the steps of:

• a) inserting a first anchoring pin having a proximal diameter into a first of the adjacent vertebral bodies,
• b) providing a vertebral body milling device having a first vertical slot disposed thereon and a distally disposed cutting element, the vertical slot having a length being greater than the proximal diameter of the first anchoring pin,
• c) receiving the first slot over the first anchoring pin, and
• d) inserting the cutting element into the disc space so that the first pin vertically moves within the first slot and the disc space opens to accept the cutting element and preserve the lips.