Method and apparatus for directional guidance in the performance of a partial vertebrectomy within a cervical spine

1 . A guidance device for use in guiding removal of bone from a selected starting point to a selected termination point between endplates of a single cervical vertebra during performance of a surgical procedure to a cervical vertebral body that does not include a fusion to an adjacent vertebra, the procedure including placement of an implant into a void created by the removal of bone between the endplates, the implant having been given clearance from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

2 . The guidance device of claim 1 , wherein the guidance device is part of a series of guidance devices, and at least one guidance device is selected from the series of guidance devices.

3 . The guidance device of claim 1 , wherein the guidance device may contain a single angle or compound angles.

4 . The guidance device of claim 1 , further comprising a handle feature, wherein the handle feature is a separate instrument and is removable from the guidance device.

5 . The guidance device of claim 1 , wherein the guidance device has a height profile of less than 20 millimeters.

6 . The guidance device of claim 1 , wherein the guidance device further comprises indicia, the indicia providing additional guidance for a user.

7 . The guidance device of claim 1 , wherein the implant has been given a PLR product code from the FDA.

8 . The guidance device of claim 1 , wherein the guidance device can be computer assisted image guidance.

9 . A guidance device for use in guidance of a bone removal tool in performance of an anterior cervical surgical procedure that includes placing an implant into a void between two vertebral endplates of a single vertebra in a cervical spine, the implant having been given clearance from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), wherein the performance of the surgical procedure to the cervical vertebral body results in leaving adjacent intervertebral discs functionally intact and does not include a fusion to an adjacent vertebra.

10 . The guidance device of claim 9 , wherein the guidance device is part of a series of guidance devices, and at least one guidance device is selected from the series of guidance devices.

11 . The guidance device of claim 9 , wherein the guidance device may contain a single angle or compound angles.

12 . The guidance device of claim 9 , further comprising a handle feature, wherein the handle feature is a separate instrument and is removable from the guidance device.

13 . The guidance device of claim 9 , wherein the guidance device further comprises indicia, the indicia providing additional guidance for a user.

14 . The guidance device of claim 9 , wherein the implant has been given a PLR product code from the FDA.

15 . The guidance device of claim 9 , wherein the guidance device can be computer assisted image guidance.

16 . A guidance device for performing a multi-aperture surgical procedure to a vertebral body of a cervical spine during performance of an anterior cervical spinal surgery that does not include a fusion to an adjacent vertebra, the multi-aperture surgical procedure including creating a first void in the vertebral body, the first void having an entrance and a terminus region, creating at least a second void in the vertebral body of the cervical spine where the first void was created, and placing at least one implant into at least one of the first void and the second void created in the vertebral body of the cervical spine during the performance of the anterior cervical spinal surgery, the implant having been given clearance from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

17 . The guidance device of claim 16 , wherein the guidance device is part of a series of guidance devices, and at least one guidance device is selected from the series of guidance devices.

18 . The guidance device of claim 16 , wherein the guidance device may contain a single angle or compound angles.

19 . The guidance device of claim 16 , further comprising a handle feature, wherein the handle feature is a separate instrument and is removable from the guidance device.

20 . The guidance device of claim 16 , wherein the guidance device further comprises indicia, the indicia providing additional guidance for a user.

21 . The guidance device of claim 16 , wherein the implant has been given a PLR product code from the FDA.

22 . The guidance device of claim 16 , wherein the guidance device can be computer assisted image guidance.

23 . A guidance device for use in an anterior cervical spinal surgical procedure that does not include a fusion to an adjacent vertebra, the guidance device being used for guiding removal of bone from a selected starting point to a selected termination point during performance of surgical procedure to a cervical vertebral body, the procedure including placement of an implant into a void between vertebral endplates of a single vertebra of the cervical spine, the implant having been given clearance from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

24 . The guidance device of claim 23 , wherein the guidance device is part of a series of guidance devices, and at least one guidance device is selected from the series of guidance devices.

25 . The guidance device of claim 23 , wherein the guidance device may contain a single angle or compound angles.

26 . The guidance device of claim 23 , further comprising a handle feature, wherein the handle feature is a separate instrument and is removable from the guidance device.

27 . The guidance device of claim 23 , wherein the guidance device has a height profile of less than 20 millimeters.

28 . The guidance device of claim 23 , wherein the guidance device further comprises indicia, the indicia providing additional guidance for a user.

29 . The guidance device of claim 23 , wherein the implant has been given a PLR product code from the FDA.

30 . The guidance device of claim 23 , wherein the guidance device can be computer assisted image guidance.