Instrumentation for manipulating artificial interverterbral disc trials having a cylindrical engagement surface

Abstract

Instrumentation for implanting an artificial intervertebral disc includes a static trial holder for manipulating static trials, the static trial holder including an extension having a longitudinal axis, at least two prongs coupled to a fulcrum located at a distal extension end of the extension, each of the prongs having a prong extension, the prong extensions together defining a contractable and expandable holding enclosure for holding the static trial; and a sleeve that surrounds the distal extension and that is collinear with the extension longitudinal axis, and that is rotatable about the extension longitudinal axis; wherein rotation of the sleeve about the extension longitudinal axis brings an inner surface of the sleeve to bear on at least one of the prongs to move the holding enclosure to a contracted state in which the static trial cannot be removed from the holding enclosure.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.