Instruments and methods for inserting artificial intervertebral implants
View Patent ↗Apparatus and methods for preparing a disc space and inserting an intervertebral disc implant therein are disclosed. Among the various instruments disclosed are a midline marker, a reference pin drill and insertion guide, a pin drill guide, a chisel guide, a sizer, a serrated broach, an implant dispenser, and an implant insertion tool. Methods of utilizing these tools are also disclosed.
1. A method of marking first and second adjacent vertebral bodies separated by an intervertebral disc, the method comprising the steps of:
providing a midline marker including a first lateral extension having a first barbed spike, a second lateral extension having a second barbed spike, a first vertical extension including a first recess, and a second vertical extension including a second recess;
inserting the first and second barbed spikes in the intervertebral disc so that the first recess is aligned with the first vertebral body, the second recess is aligned with the second vertebral body, and the first and second vertical extensions are aligned with a midline of the intervertebral disc; and
using the first recess to mark the first vertebral body and the second recess to mark the second vertebral body.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first and second lateral extensions are aligned with one another along a first horizontal axis and the first and second vertical extensions are aligned with one another along a second vertical axis.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the inserting step includes placing a concave curved surface formed by the first and second lateral extensions adjacent the intervertebral disc.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of attaching the midline marker to a handle having an outer shaft and plunger disposed within the outer shaft.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the step of attaching includes placing a button formed on the midline marker in an opening formed in the plunger.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the step of attaching includes moving the plunger to a first position with respect to the outer shaft, the first position allowing for the button to be placed in the opening.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the step of attaching includes moving the plunger to a second position with respect to the outer shaft, the second position allowing for the midline marker to be fixed with respect to the handle.
8. The method of claim 4 , wherein the step of attaching includes aligning the first and second recesses with an alignment feature of the handle.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the step of inserting includes aligning the alignment feature with respect to the first and second vertebral bodies.
10. A method of marking first and second adjacent vertebral bodies separated by an intervertebral disc, the method comprising the steps of:
providing a midline marker including a first lateral extension having a first barbed spike, a second lateral extension having a second barbed spike, a first vertical extension including a first recess, and a second vertical extension including a second recess;
inserting the first and second barbed spikes in the intervertebral disc so that the first recess is aligned with the first vertebral body, the second recess is aligned with the second vertebral body, and the first and second vertical extensions are aligned with a midline of the intervertebral disc;
using the first recess to mark the first vertebral body and the second recess to mark the second vertebral body;
inserting reference pins into the first and second vertebral bodies at the location of the markings; and
guiding an implant between the first and second adjacent vertebral bodies using the reference pins so that the implant is positioned between the first and second vertebral bodies.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the first and second lateral extensions are aligned with one another along a first horizontal axis and the first and second vertical extensions are aligned with one another along a second vertical axis.
12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the inserting step includes placing a concave curved surface formed by the first and second lateral extensions adjacent the intervertebral disc.
13. The method of claim 10 , further comprising the step of attaching the midline marker to a handle having an outer shaft and plunger disposed within the outer shaft.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the step of attaching includes placing a button formed on the midline marker in an opening formed in the plunger.
15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the step of attaching includes moving the plunger to a first position with respect to the outer shaft, the first position allowing for the button to be placed in the opening.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the step of attaching includes moving the plunger to a second position with respect to the outer shaft, the second position allowing for the midline marker to be fixed with respect to the handle.
17. The method of claim 13 , wherein the step of attaching includes aligning the first and second recesses with an alignment feature of the handle.
18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the step of inserting includes aligning the alignment feature with respect to the first and second vertebral bodies.
19. The method of claim 10 , further comprising distracting the first and second vertebral bodies apart by contacting the reference pins and forcing them apart.