INTERVERTEBRAL SPACER DEVICE HAVING RECESSED NOTCH PAIRS FOR MANIPULATION USING A SURGICAL TOOL
Instrumentation for implanting an artificial intervertebral disc includes static trials and a dynamic trial for determining the appropriate size of disc to be implanted, static trial holders for manipulating the static trials, inserter/impactors for inserting and removing the static trials and for inserting the artificial intervertebral discs, repositioners/extractors for repositioning and extracting the static trials or the artificial intervertebral discs, and a leveler for setting the proper position of the artificial intervertebral disc. Methods for using the same are also disclosed. Features for artificial intervertebral discs and intervertebral spacer devices useful for manipulation by the instrumentation are also disclosed.
1 . A method of orienting an implant within an intervertebral disc space comprising:
providing an implant having first and second bone-contacting surfaces adapted to be positioned in the intervertebral disc space and space apart adjacent vertebral bodies surrounding the disc space, the implant having a plurality of apertures;
providing an instrument having a shaft and at least one pin adapted to engage with at least a first and a second of the plurality of apertures, wherein engaging the at least one pin with the first aperture orients the implant at a first fixed angular orientation relative to the shaft of the instrument, and engaging the at least one pin with the second aperture orients the implant at a second different fixed angular orientation relative to the shaft of the instrument;
engaging the at least one pin of the instrument with the first aperture; and
rotating the implant within the disc space while the at least one pin of the instrument is engaged with the first aperture of the implant.
2 . A method of orienting an implant within an intervertebral disc space comprising:
providing an implant having first and second bone-contacting surfaces adapted to be positioned in the intervertebral disc space and space apart adjacent vertebral bodies surrounding the disc space, the implant having a plurality of apertures arranged as sets of apertures;
providing an instrument having a shaft and a plurality of pins, at least a first and a second of the plurality of pins being adapted to simultaneously engage with, respectively, at least a first and a second of the sets of apertures, wherein simultaneously engaging the first and second pins with the first set of apertures orients the implant at a first fixed angular orientation relative to the shaft of the instrument, and simultaneously engaging the first and second pins with the second set of apertures orients the implant at a second different fixed angular orientation relative to the shaft of the instrument;
simultaneously engaging the first and second pins of the instrument with the first set of apertures; and
rotating the implant within the disc space while the first and second pins of the instrument are simultaneously engaged with the first set of apertures of the implant.
3 . A method of orienting an implant within an intervertebral disc space comprising:
providing an implant having first and second bone-contacting surfaces adapted to be positioned in the intervertebral disc space and space apart adjacent vertebral bodies surrounding the disc space, the implant having a plurality of apertures;
providing an instrument having a shaft and at least one pin adapted to engage with at least a first and a second of the plurality of apertures, wherein engaging the at least one pin with the first aperture orients the implant at a first fixed angular orientation relative the shaft of the instrument, and engaging the at least one pin with the second aperture orients the implant at a second different fixed angular orientation relative to the shaft of the instrument;
inserting the implant into the disc space along an anteriolateral approach so that the implant is in an initially-inserted orientation at least partially within the disc space;
engaging the at least one pin of the instrument with the first aperture; and
moving the implant from the initially-inserted orientation to a final orientation within the disc space while the at least one pin of the instrument is engaged with the first aperture of the implant, the implant being left implanted in the final orientation within the disc space.