Patent ID: 7988699
Filing Date: 2011-08-02
Classification: A61B,A61F

Abstract:
1. A surgical instrument for processing an intervertebral disc space and/or for insertion of a spinal implant into the processed space comprising: a shaft having a first axis; a first joint element coupled to the shaft; and at least two different heads for said processing and/or insertion, each of the different heads for selective attachment to the shaft, each head having a second longitudinal axis and a second joint element which mates with the first joint element, the first and second joint elements forming a joint for attaching each selected head to the shaft, wherein the at least two different heads are selected from a group consisting of any two different head configurations, the configurations forming categories, each category having one or more different configurations, the categories including a chisel, an implant gripping head, an implant impacting head, an implant inserter, a rasp, a distractor, a trial, a curette and a rongeur; wherein the joint is configured for permitting pivoting of the second longitudinal axis of each selected head in at least three directions relative to the first axis, and wherein the second longitudinal axis is collinear with the first axis in at least one orientation of the selected head.