Patent ID: 7547308
Filing Date: 2009-06-16
Classification: A61B,A61F

Abstract:
1. An instrument for separating adjacent vertebrae, comprising: a first member positonable along an endplate of one of the adjacent vertebrae and including a first outer surface extending between a proximal end and a distal end; a second member positonable along an endplate of the other of the adjacent vertebrae, said second member being movable relative to said first member and including a second outer surface extending between a proximal end and a distal end, wherein said first and second outer surfaces are tapered relative to one another from said proximal ends to said distal ends to form an angle between said first and second outer surfaces; a handle assembly extending proximally from said first and second members; and at least one actuating member positioned between said first and second members, said at least one actuating member including a wedge shaped body with opposite first and second surfaces tapering toward one another at a taper angle and contacting respective ones of said first and second members, wherein said taper angle of said first and second surfaces is substantially greater than said angle between said first and second outer surfaces, said at least one actuating member being movable with said handle assembly from a first position wherein said first and second members include an unexpanded configuration relative to one another for insertion in the space between adjacent vertebrae to a second position providing an expanded configuration wherein said actuating member displaces at least one of said first and second members away from the other of said first and second members and said angle between said first and second outer surfaces is maintained, wherein: