Method and instrumentation for vertebral interbody fusion

A disc space distractor, comprising:

• a shaft extending along a longitudinal axis;
• a distractor tip joined to said shaft;
• said distractor tip including a rounded leading edge, opposing inclined surfaces and substantially planar opposing surfaces;
• said rounded leading edge extending to said opposing inclined surfaces;
• said opposing inclined surfaces blending into said planar opposing surfaces;
• said planar surfaces extending in a parallel arrangement along said longitudinal axis to establish a first distraction height;
• said distractor tip further including opposing rounded surfaces defining a second distraction height;
• wherein said distractor tip is rotatable about said longitudinal axis to distract vertebrae between said first distraction height and said second distraction height;
• wherein said rounded leading edge is arc shaped between the said opposing rounded surfaces to directly distract the vertebrae to said second distraction height;
• and
• wherein said second distraction height is greater than said first distraction height.

A distractor, comprising:

• a distractor tip including
• a rounded leading edge,
• opposing inclined surfaces extending from said rounded leading edge for easing insertion of said distractor tip into a disc space between vertebrae,
• opposing planar surfaces extending in a parallel arrangement to establish a first working distraction height, said opposing inclined surfaces blending into said opposing planar surfaces,
• opposing rounded surfaces extending between said opposing planar surfaces for moving the vertebrae to a second working distraction height upon rotation of said distractor tip, said second working distraction height being larger than said first working distraction height, and
• said rounded leading edge having a rounded shape that forms an arc that stretches between said opposing rounded surfaces to permit direct insertion of said distractor tip into the disc space for directly achieving said second working distraction height.

A distractor, comprising:

• a distraction head having a longitudinal axis and a first pair of opposed surfaces extending substantially along said longitudinal axis and defining a first working distraction height approximating a normal disc space height and a second pair of opposed surfaces extending substantially along said longitudinal axis and defining a second working distraction height approximating a second normal disc space height, with said first working distraction height being different from said second working distraction height, said distraction head rotatable between said first distraction height and said second distraction height by rotating said distraction head about said longitudinal axis;
• wherein said distraction head includes a distractor tip having a rounded leading edge that is continuously rounded between said second pair of opposed surfaces to permit insertion of said distraction head to directly achieve said second working distraction height;
• wherein said first pair of opposing surfaces are planar surfaces extending in a parallel alignment along said longitudinal axis;
• and
• wherein said distraction head includes a pair of inclined surfaces extending from said leading edge to said first pair of opposing surfaces.