Patent ID: 6648891
Filing Date: 2003-11-18
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
A system for promoting the fusion of vertebrae to a bone graft in a spinal column, the system comprising:first and second distractor pins; a fusion plate including engaging means for engaging paid first and second distractor pins; a distractor device having distractor pin coupling means for coupling to said first and second distractor pins when said distractor pins are coupled protrudingly from a first and a second vertebrae; said distractor device further comprising fusion plate measuring means; said distractor device coupling to said first and second distractor pins with said pin coupling means and compressively drawing together a first and a second vertebrae coupled to said distractor pins until a desired level of compression against a bone graft is achieved; and anchoring means for anchoring said fusion plate to a first and a second vertebrae while maintaining a desired level of compression upon said distractor pins with said distractor device.