System for inserting artificial intervertebral discs
A system for stabilizing an intervertebral segment includes an intervertebral implant having a first plate, a second plate, and an articulating joint coupling the first and second plates, whereby at least one of the plates has an inner surface having at least one hole. The system includes an instrument for holding the implant, the system having a shaft with a proximal end, a distal end and a longitudinal axis extending between the proximal and distal ends, a body attached to the distal end of the shaft, and a pin having a hooked end that is extendable from the body for being inserted into the at least one hole of the implant so as to couple the implant with the distal end of the holding instrument.
1 . A system for stabilizing an intervertebral segment comprising:
an intervertebral implant including
a first plate,
a second plate, and
an articulating joint coupling said first and second plates, wherein at least one of said plates has an inner surface having at least one hole;
an instrument for holding said implant including
a shaft having a proximal end, a distal end and a longitudinal axis extending between the proximal and distal ends,
a body attached to the distal end of said shaft,
a pin having a hooked end that is extendable from said body for being inserted into the at least one hole of said implant for coupling said implant with the distal end of said holding instrument.
2 . The system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said pin is movable along the longitudinal axis between a first position in which said hooked end of said pin is at least partially retracted inside said body and a second position in which said hooked end of said pin is at least partially extended from said body.
3 . The system as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising a spring coupled with said pin for normally urging said pin into the first retracted position.
4 . The system as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising a flange coupled with said pin, said flange being movable relative to said shaft and toward the distal end of said shaft for moving said hooked end of said pin into the second extended position.
5 . The system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said pin has a first section that extends along said longitudinal axis of said shaft and said hooked end is connected to and angled relative to said first section of said pin.
6 . The system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said hooked end of said pin consists of a single hook.
7 . The system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said body has at least one concave surface at a distal face thereof that is engageable with said intervertebral implant.
8 . The system as claimed in claim 7 , wherein said at least one concave surface comprises:
a first set of substantially flat surfaces that are angled relative to one another;
a second set of substantially flat surfaces that are angled relative to one another;
a wedge-shaped projection located between said first set of substantially flat surfaces that are angled relative to one another and said second set of substantially flat surfaces that are angled relative to one another.
9 . The system as claimed in claim 8 , wherein said first plate has a peripheral edge including substantially flat surfaces that are angled relative to one another and that conform with said first set of substantially flat surfaces on said body and said second plate has a peripheral edge including substantially flat surfaces that are angled relative to one another and that conform with said second set of substantially flat surfaces on said body.
10 . The system as claimed in claim 8 , wherein said wedge-shaped projection has a top surface, a bottom surface angled relative to the top surface and a curved surface extending between the top and bottom surfaces thereof.
11 . The system as claimed in claim 11 , wherein said wedge-shaped projection includes a channel formed therein and said hooked end of said pin is extendable from said channel.
12 . A system for stabilizing an intervertebral segment comprising:
an articulating implant including a first plate and a second plate, wherein an inner surface of at least one of said plates has at least one hole;
an instrument for holding said implant including
a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end,
a body attached to the distal end of said shaft,
a pin having a hooked end that is extendable from said body and insertable into the at least one hole of said implant for coupling said implant with said holding instrument.
13 . The system as claimed in claim 12 , wherein said pin is movable along an axis extending from the proximal end to the distal end of said shaft between a first position in which said hooked end of said pin is at least partially retracted inside said body and a second position in which said hooked end of said pin is at least partially extended from said body.
14 . The system as claimed in claim 13 , further comprising a spring coupled with said pin for normally urging said hooked end of said pin toward the proximal end of said shaft and into the first position.
15 . The system as claimed in claim 12 , wherein said body has at least one concave surface at a distal end thereof that is engageable with said intervertebral implant.
16 . The system as claimed in claim 15 , wherein said at least one concave surface comprises:
a first set of substantially flat surfaces that are angled relative to one another;
a second set of substantially flat surfaces that are angled relative to one another;
a wedge-shaped projection located between said first set of substantially flat surfaces and said second set of substantially flat surfaces.
17 . The system as claimed in claim 16 , wherein said first plate has a peripheral edge including substantially flat surfaces that are angled relative to one another and that conform with said first set of substantially flat surfaces on said body and said second plate has a peripheral edge including substantially flat surfaces that are angled relative to one another and that conform with said second set of substantially flat surfaces on said body.
18 . A system for stabilizing an intervertebral segment comprising:
an articulating implant including a first plate and a second plate, wherein an inner surface of at least one of said plates has at least one hole;
an instrument for holding said implant including
a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end,
a body attached to the distal end of said shaft,
a distal face of said body including a first set of substantially flat surfaces that are angled relative to one another, a second set of substantially flat surfaces that are angled relative to one another, and a wedge-shaped projection located between said first set of substantially flat surfaces and said second set of substantially flat surfaces, and
a pin having a hooked end that is extendable from said wedge-shaped projection for being insertable into the at least one hole of said implant for coupling said implant with said holding instrument.
19 . The system as claimed in claim 18 , wherein said wedge-shaped projection has a top surface engageable with said first plate, a bottom surface engageable with said second plate, the top surface of said wedge-shaped projection being angled relative to the bottom surface of said wedge-shaped projection, and a concave surface extending between the top and bottom surfaces thereof.
20 . The system as claimed in claim 19 , wherein said wedge-shaped projection includes a channel formed therein and said hooked end of said pin is extendable from said channel.