Dilating stylet and cannula

1. A surgical instrument set comprising:

a cannula having a distal end, a proximal end, a passage therethrough, and a mid-longitudinal axis, said distal end having an outer perimeter converging toward the mid-longitudinal axis of said cannula, said distal end being sufficiently rigid to penetrate and displace bone during advancement of said distal end of said cannula into the bone, said distal end including a distal edge, said outer perimeter of said distal end of said cannula comprising a first linear portion being at a first angle to the mid-longitudinal axis of the cannula, and a second linear portion being at a second angle to the mid-longitudinal axis of the cannula, the second angle having a value different from the first angle, the second linear portion extending from the first linear portion to said distal edge; and

a stylet having a distal end, a proximal end, and a mid-longitudinal axis passing through said distal and proximal ends, said stylet including a handle at said proximal end of said stylet, said handle having an enlarged portion and a neck between said enlarged portion and said distal end of said stylet, said neck having a reduced cross-section relative to said enlarged portion and perpendicular to the mid-longitudinal axis of said stylet, said stylet having a tapered transition portion proximate said distal end, said tapered transition portion having an angle approximating the second angle of said outer perimeter of said distal end of said cannula, said stylet being sized and configured to be inserted into said passage of said cannula, at least a portion of said tapered transition portion and said distal end of said stylet being configured to extend beyond said distal end of said cannula;

said neck including a stop configured to prevent said stylet from passing completely through said cannula.

2. The instrument set of claim 1 , wherein the angle of said tapered transition portion and the second angle of said outer perimeter of said distal end are the same.

3. The instrument set of claim 1 , wherein the angle of said tapered transition portion and the second angle of said outer perimeter of said distal end are within 5 degrees of each other.

4. The instrument set of claim 1 , wherein the angle of said tapered transition portion and the second angle of said outer perimeter of said distal end are within 15 degrees of each other.

5. The instrument set of claim 1 , wherein said stylet has a mid-longitudinal axis and the angle of said tapered transition portion relative to the mid-longitudinal axis of said stylet is in the range of approximately 10 to 45 degrees.

6. The instrument set of claim 1 , wherein the second angle of said outer perimeter of said distal end relative to the mid-longitudinal axis of said cannula is in the range of approximately 10 to 45 degrees.

7. The instrument set of claim 1 , wherein said tapered transition portion of said stylet is adjacent said converging outer perimeter of said distal end of said cannula.

8. The instrument set of claim 1 , wherein said outer perimeter of said distal end of said cannula includes a plurality of serrations.

9. The instrument set of claim 1 , wherein said cannula has an exterior surface including a thread for engaging said cannula to bone.

10. The instrument set of claim 1 , wherein said distal end of said stylet has a tip and a length as measured from said tip to said tapered transition portion, said length being greater than the length of said transition portion.

11. The instrument set of claim 1 , wherein the length of said distal end of said stylet is approximately 0.5 inches.

12. The instrument set of claim 1 , wherein said cannula is sized and dimensioned to pass through a pedicle of a vertebra of a human spine.

13. The instrument set of claim 1 , wherein said distal end of said stylet includes at least one flat surface.

14. The instrument set of claim 1 , wherein said cannula has a maximum diameter transverse to the mid-longitudinal axis thereof, and wherein said stylet has a mid-longitudinal axis and a maximum diameter transverse to the mid-longitudinal thereof, the maximum diameter of said stylet being greater than one-half the maximum diameter of said cannula.

15. The instrument set of claim 1 , wherein the angle of said tapered transition portion of said stylet has a value between the first angle and the second angle of said cannula.