Patent ID: 7892262
Filing Date: 2011-02-22
Classification: A61B,A61F

Abstract:
1. A method of inserting intervertebral prosthetic disc assemblies from a posterior approach comprising; inserting a trial into an intervertebral space; creating at least one first pathway in at least one vertebral body with a chisel, wherein the location of said pathway is determined by the position of the trial, wherein the trial comprises a keyed recess and a rod receptacle, and the keyed recess is capable of receiving an angled guide; creating at least one second pathway in said vertebral body with a chisel, the chisel configured to be received by the angled guide and the angled guide being selectively engageable with the keyed recess such that a portion of the angled guide is spaced substantially parallel to and at a predetermined distance from, a central axis of the trial, and wherein the location of said second pathway is determined by the position of the trial; inserting a first assembly of a prosthetic disc into an intervertebral space using one of said first or second pathways, wherein said first or second pathway determines the position of the first assembly; and inserting a second assembly of a prosthetic disc into the intervertebral space using the other of said first or second pathways, wherein the other of said first or second pathway determines the position of the second assembly wherein the keyed recess is capable of receiving the guide at a predetermined angle, and the keyed recess is positioned so that it faces a contra-lateral side of a treated area, and the guide is then inserted into the treated area on the contra-lateral side of the area from the trial and chisel and wherein the angled guide attaches to the keyed recess to spaced apart and position a second intervertebral disc.