Patent ID: 7497859
Filing Date: 2009-03-03
Classification: A61B,A61F

Abstract:
1. A tool for preparing vertebral bodies for an implant comprising: a cutter having, a forked end having a first tine and a second tine, said first and said second tines both having an upper surface and a lower surface, and both having an inner side and an outer side, wherein the inner side extends between the upper surface and the lower surface, and the outer side extends between the upper surface and the lower surface, a first cutting blade extending from the upper surface of said first tine and flush with the inner side of said first tine; a second cutting blade extending from the upper surface of said second tine and flush with the inner side of said second tine and, said first and second cutting blades extending in a first direction from said first and said second tines; wherein the first and second cutting blades are adapted to cut a first pair of grooves in a first vertebral body in the first direction; and a third cutting blade extending from the lower surface of said first tine and flush with the outer side of said first tine; and a fourth cutting blade extending from the lower surface of said second tine and flush with the outer side of said second tine and, said third and fourth cutting blades extending in a second direction from said first and said second tines and said third and fourth cutting blades are placed further apart than the first and second cutting blades; wherein the third and fourth cutting blades are adapted to cut a second pair of grooves in a second vertebral body in the second direction; wherein the second direction is opposite from the first direction and the first and second pair of grooves are cut simultaneously in the first and second vertebral bodies, wherein the first, second, third, and fourth cutting blades each comprise a leading cutting edge extending substantially parallel to one of the inner and outer sides of the first or second tines.