Patent ID: 7491241

Claim:
A spinal orthopedic device and tool set, comprising an intervertebral spacer device having first and second baseplates mounted to one another such that the first and second baseplates are articulatable relative to one another, the first baseplate having a top surface and an opposed bottom surface, the bottom surface of the first baseplate having a perimetrical region including a plurality of notches, wherein each notch has a recess formed therein, the second baseplate having a top surface and an opposed bottom surface, the top surface of the second baseplate having a perimetrical region including a plurality of notches, wherein each notch has a recess formed therein, the perimetrical regions of the baseplates separated by a spacing having a first width, wherein the recesses of the perimetrical regions of the first and second baseplates include walls that define an access volume separated by a spacing having a second width greater than the first width; and a manipulation tool having a distal shaft having a relevant dimension greater than the first width, but less than the greater second width, such that when the distal shaft is accommodated between the perimetrical regions of the baseplates only in the access volume, movement of the intervertebral spacer device relative to the distal shaft of the manipulation tool is limited by interference between the distal shaft and the walls of at least one of the recesses, such that the intervertebral spacer device is manipulatable using the manipulation tool.