Instrumentation for repositioning and extraction an artificial intervertebral disc from an intervertebral space

1. A system for repositioning an intervertebral implant comprising:

an intervertebral implant having at least two holes therein; and

an instrument comprising:

a shaft having a proximal end, a distal end, and a longitudinal axis through the proximal and distal ends;

first and second prongs projecting outwardly from the distal end of the shaft, the first prong lying on and extending along the longitudinal axis and the second prong extending away from the longitudinal axis of the shaft in a direction toward one of the group consisting of left and right relative to the longitudinal axis of the shaft, the first and second prongs being coupled to the shaft such that each is immovable relative to the shaft; and

first and second pins extending from a distal end of each of the first and second prongs, respectively,

wherein each of the first and second pins extends in a direction perpendicular to a plane passing through the longitudinal axis, each of the pins being parallel to each other, the first pin being located on the longitudinal axis of the shaft and the second pin being located on the second prong,

wherein each of the first and second pins are sized, directed, and spaced for simultaneous engagement with at least two of the at least two holes of the intervertebral implant; and

wherein such simultaneous engagement enables repositioning of the intervertebral implant via application of pressure to the shaft.

2. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the simultaneous engagement of the first and second pins into two of the holes enables rotation of the implant in the intervertebral space in a plane perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of a spine having the intervertebral space by pushing the shaft in the perpendicular plane.

3. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the simultaneous engagement of the first and second pins into two of the holes enables extraction of the implant from the intervertebral space along the longitudinal axis of the shaft by pulling the shaft in a proximal direction.

4. The system according to claim 1 , wherein selection of the two holes for simultaneous engagement by the first and second pins corresponds to selection of a surgical approach, and wherein the approach is one of the group consisting of an anterior approach and an anterio-lateral approach.

5. The system according to claim 1 , further comprising a handle coupled to the shaft, wherein applying pressure to the handle in a proximal direction aids extraction of the implant from the intervertebral space.

6. A set of apparatuses for repositioning an intervertebral implant having multiple pairs of holes in an intervertebral space, each apparatus comprising:

a shaft having a distal end and a longitudinal axis, the distal end of the shaft including a first prong and a second prong, the first prong being straight and extending along the longitudinal axis such that the first prong lies entirely on the same axis as the longitudinal axis of the shaft, and the second prong being curved and extending away from the longitudinal axis, the first and second prongs being immovable relative to the shaft; and

a pair of pins extending from each of the first and second prongs, respectively, extending along a longitudinal axis in a same direction parallel to one another, perpendicular to a plane passing through the longitudinal axis, and engageable by the multiple pairs of holes of the implant,

wherein the position of the longitudinal axis of the shaft of the apparatus relative to the pair of pins of the apparatus is such that a selection of a particular pair of pins for engagement with a particular hole pair corresponds to a selection of a surgical approach that is substantially aligned with the longitudinal axis of the shaft.

7. The set of apparatuses of claim 6 , wherein the surgical approach is one of the group consisting of an anterior approach and an anterior-lateral approach.