Artificial intervertebral disc trial having a controllably separable distal end

1. An apparatus for at least one of distracting an intervertebral space and determining a size of an artificial intervertebral disc to be implanted in the intervertebral space, the apparatus comprising:

a shaft;

at least two distal extensions coupled to the shaft, the distal extensions each having a proximal portion, an intermediate portion and a distal portion, the proximal portions and the distal portions of the extensions having a substantially fixed separation from each other and the intermediate portions of the distal extensions capable of moving toward and separating from one another;

a bifurcated trial having a first trial half of the bifurcated trial coupled by a first pin to a first of the extensions such that the first trial half can pivot with respect to the first of the extensions and having a second trial half of the bifurcated trial fixed to a second of the extensions such that the second trial half cannot pivot with respect to the second of the extensions; and

a second pin located between the extensions;

wherein at least one external trial shape of the bifurcated trial approximates at least one external disc shape of a corresponding portion of the artificial intervertebral disc;

wherein movement of the second pin in a distal direction increases the separation between the intermediate portions of the extensions;

wherein movement of the second pin in a proximal direction decreases the separation between the intermediate portions of the extensions; and

wherein varying the separation between the intermediate portions of the extensions varies a separation between the trial halves,

wherein the first trial halves pivots to place the trial halves in lordosis.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the trial halves has an outwardly facing trial surface shaped as a convex dome.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the trial halves has a smooth outwardly facing trial surface.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the trial halves has an outwardly facing trial surface that approximates a corresponding outwardly facing disc surface of the artificial intervertebral disc.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising at least one marking, wherein the marking quantifies at least one of the group consisting of a first distance between respective inner surfaces of the trial halves, a second distance between respective outer surfaces of the trial halves, and the size of the artificial intervertebral disc to be implanted in the intervertebral space.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the marking is located on the shaft.

7. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein at least one of the markings quantifies an artificial intervertebral disc size in a range of 13 mm to 20 mm.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising at least one flange coupled to a proximal shaft end of the shaft;

wherein applying pressure to the flange in a distal direction aids insertion of the bifurcated trial into the intervertebral space; and

wherein applying pressure to the flange in a proximal direction aids extraction of the bifurcated trial from the intervertebral space.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the extensions is coupled to a fulcrum of the shaft.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the extensions is biased toward the other of the extensions.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the bias is created by at least one of the group consisting of a spring, a material of at least one of the extensions, a strength of the material, and formation of a fulcrum that is located at a proximal end of at least one of the extensions.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the extensions is coupled to the shaft via at least one screw such that the screw limits adjustment of the second pin.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising an outer shaft portion coupled to the second pin and extending adjacent at least one of the group consisting of a portion of the shaft, and a portion of one of the extensions.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 , further comprising a control device coupled to at least one of the outer shaft portion and the second pin; wherein movement of the control device varies the separation of the trial halves.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the control device is a first control device, and further comprising a second control device, wherein the second control device maintains the trial halves at the separation created by adjustment of the first control device.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein at least one of the control devices is a knob.

17. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the second control device is threaded to at least a portion of the shaft; and wherein interference between second control device threads of the second control device and shaft threads of the shaft holds the extensions at the separation created by adjustment of the first control device.

18. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein rotation of the second control device increases the separation between the trial halves; and wherein reverse rotation of the second control device decreases the separation between the trial halves.

19. An apparatus for at least one of distracting an intervertebral space and determining a size of an artificial intervertebral disc to be implanted in the intervertebral space, the apparatus comprising:

a shaft;

at least two distal extensions coupled to the shaft;

a bifurcated trial having a first trial half of the bifurcated trial coupled by a first pin to a first of the extensions such that the first trial half can pivot with respect to the first of the extensions and having a second trial half of the bifurcated trial fixed to a second of the extensions such that the second trial half cannot pivot with respect to the second of the extensions; and

a second pin located between the extensions;

wherein at least one external trial shape of the bifurcated trial approximates at least one external disc shape of a corresponding portion of the artificial intervertebral disc;

wherein movement of the second pin in a distal direction increases a separation between the extensions;

wherein movement of the second pin in a proximal direction decreases the separation between the extensions, the increase or decrease of the separation of the extensions causes the first trial half to rotate about the first pin; and

wherein varying the separation between the extensions varies a separation between the trial halves.