Patent ID: 9216024
Filing Date: 2015-12-22
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. A trial implant configured to prepare an intervertebral space for insertion of an intervertebral disc prosthesis, the trial implant comprising: a trial implant body defining a superior bearing surface, an inferior bearing surface that is opposite the superior bearing surface along a vertical direction, an anterior end, a posterior end spaced from the anterior end along an anterior-posterior direction that is substantially perpendicular to the vertical direction, and opposed lateral sides spaced apart with respect to each other, and each of the anterior and posterior ends define a midpoint located between the opposed lateral sides, the midpoints lying on an anterior-posterior axis that is aligned with the anterior-posterior direction, and the trial implant body further defining a superior guide slot that extends into the superior bearing surface, an inferior guide slot that extends into the inferior bearing surface, a superior bottom surface, and an inferior bottom surface, the superior and inferior bottom surfaces being spaced from each bearing surface along the vertical direction, wherein 1) each guide slot extends from the respective bearing surfaces to the respective bottom surfaces such that the guide slots do not extend entirely through the trial implant body, and 2) each guide slot is elongate along a respective guide slot axis that is perpendicular with respect to the vertical direction and is oblique with respect to the anterior-posterior axis, wherein the at least one guide slot is configured to receive a guide along the guide slot axis.