Intervertebral disc prosthesis and instrumentation for insertion of the prosthesis between the vertebrae

Instrumentation for inserting an intervertebral disc prosthesis between vertebrae of a spinal column comprising:

• a hollow tube having a manipulation end and a prehension end, the manipulation end having plural contact surfaces and a separation axis;
• a rod slidably disposed at least partially in the tube and having a manipulation end, a prehension end, a longitudinal axis, and a width;
• an axis of rotation attached to the rod proximal to the prehension end of the rod;
• and
• feet rotatable about the axis of rotation, the feet collectively forming a clip for grasping the intervertebral disc prosthesis, the clip having a width exceeding the width of the rod and having external feet surfaces and internal feet surfaces;
• in which sliding the rod in the tube in the direction of the manipulation end of the tube causes closing of the clip by contact between the exterior feet surfaces of the clip and the contact surfaces of the tube;
• and
• sliding the rod in the tube in the direction of the prehension end causes opening of the clip by contact between the separation axis of the tube and the interior feet surfaces.