Apparatus for inserting spinal implants

A surgical instrument set for use in spinal fusion surgery for positioning two adjacent vertebrae in selected relationship to each other, said surgical instrument set comprising:

• a spinal distractor having a body and a disc penetrating extension extending from said body for insertion into the disc space between the two adjacent vertebrae and for bearing against adjacent endplates of the two adjacent vertebrae, said disc penetrating extension having a first portion for bearing against one of the adjacent endplates and a second portion for bearing against the other of the adjacent endplates, said first and second portions converging away from said body along at least a portion of their length;
• a guard member having an opening for providing protected access to the disc space and the adjacent vertebrae, said opening being sized to permit passage of said disc penetrating extension of said spinal distractor through said opening;
• and
• an implant driver having means for engaging an implant, said implant driver having a portion sized for passage through said opening for passing an implant through said guard member.

A surgical instrument set for use in spinal fusion surgery for positioning two adjacent vertebrae in selected relationship to each other, said surgical instrument set comprising:

• a spinal distractor having a body and a disc penetrating extension extending from said body for insertion into the disc space between the two adjacent vertebrae and for bearing against adjacent endplates of the two adjacent vertebrae, said disc penetrating extension having a first portion for bearing against one of the adjacent endplates and a second portion for bearing against the other of the adjacent endplates, said first and second portions diverging away from said body along at least a portion of their length, said disc penetrating extension having a tapered leading end to facilitate placement of said disc penetrating extension into the disc space;
• a guard member having an opening for providing protected access to the disc space and the adjacent vertebrae, said opening being sized to permit passage of said disc penetrating extension of said spinal distractor through said opening;
• and
• an implant driver having means for engaging an implant, said implant driver having a portion sized for passage through said opening for passing an implant through said guard member.