Patent ID: 8062299
Filing Date: 2011-11-22
Classification: A61B,A61F

Abstract:
1. A medical instrument for preparation of a disc space between adjacent vertebrae of a patient, comprising: a cutting blade; a window assembly including a wall extending around a window, said window opening proximally and distally through said wall, wherein said window assembly is configured to be coupled to and between the adjacent vertebrae with said distal opening of said window facing the adjacent vertebrae and said proximal opening of said window facing away from the adjacent vertebrae, wherein said window assembly includes at least one distraction holder extending distally from said wall at said distal opening of said window, said at least one distraction holder including opposite upper and lower surfaces for contacting endplates of the adjacent vertebrae when said window assembly is coupled to the adjacent vertebrae; and a cutting blade guide positioned in said proximal opening of said window of said window assembly, said cutting blade guide having a blade channel defined therein between opposed upper and lower surfaces of said cutting blade guide with said blade channel opening distally in said window of said window assembly and opening proximally away from the window to receive said cutting blade therethrough, said blade channel having a guide channel formed in one of said upper and lower surfaces of said cutting blade guide, said guide channel including opposing sidewalls and a guide surface extending between said opposing sidewalls, wherein said cutting blade includes a thickness between upper and lower surfaces of said cutting blade and a guiding rib with a height substantially greater than said thickness of said cutting blade so that said guiding rib extends from one of said upper and lower surfaces of said cutting blade, said guide channel receiving said guiding rib as said cutting blade is advanced distally through said blade channel to said window to maintain alignment of said cutting blade, wherein said guide has a working channel defined therein and one of said upper and lower surfaces of said blade channel is positioned between said working channel and said guide channel so that when said cutting blade is positioned in said blade channel said working channel permits removal of cutting debris therethrough.