Patent ID: 9615938
Date: 2017-04-11
CPC Classifications: A61B,A61F

Claim:
1. A surgical device for distraction and insertion of intevertebral implant material in an intervertebral space between adjacent vertebrae, the device comprising: an elongated barrel; an operative end formed on a distally-located end of the barrel, the operative end for engaging the adjacent vertebrae, wherein the operative end includes a plurality of slots allowing at least the operative end to be expanded, and includes a first dimension and a second dimension, wherein the operative end first dimension is sized to be received between the adjacent vertebrae in an initial insertion, wherein the slots extend to the distally-located end of the barrel; a cannula leading from a proximally-located portion of the barrel to an opening thereof, the opening adjacent the operative end for disposing of the implant material therefrom; and an inner member reciprocable within the barrel and having features located on at least one outer surface of the inner member for engaging one or more surfaces of the slots, wherein movement of the features against the one or more surfaces expands the distally-located end of the barrel and causes the adjacent vertebrae to become distracted as a result of the expanding surface(s).