Steerable rasp/trial member inserter and method of use

A surgical instrument for spine surgery, comprising:

• an elongated member having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion;
• an articulation member slidingly coupled to the elongated member, wherein the articulation member has a distal end portion and a proximal end portion;
• an insertion linkage having a distal end portion and a proximal end portion, wherein the proximal end portion of the insertion linkage is pivotedly coupled to the distal end portion of the articulation member;
• a removable insert, detachably pivotably coupled to the distal end portion of the elongated member and pivotably coupled to the distal end portion of the insertion linkage, the removable insert having a height between a top surface and an opposite bottom surface in a range between 4 mm and 20 mm;
• and
• an actuating mechanism coupled to the proximal end portions of elongated member and articulation member configured to move the articulation member relative to the elongated member.

A surgical instrument for spine surgery, comprising:

• A generally cylindrical body having a distal end portion and a proximal end portion;
• an articulation member slidingly coupled to the body and having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion having a recess;
• an elongated member having a proximal end portion coupled to the body and a distal end portion;
• a rasp member, pivotably coupled to the distal end portion of the elongated member and pivotably coupled to the distal end portion or the articulation member;
• an actuating mechanism coupled to proximal end portion of the body,
• a lock mechanism having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, the lock mechanism having a first position wherein the distal end portion of the lock mechanism is positioned within the recess of the articulation member, such that the articulation member can not translate distally relative to the body, the lock mechanism further including a second position wherein the distal end portion of the lock mechanism is not positioned within the recess of the articulation member, such that the articulation member may translate in relation to the main body.