Patent ID: 7063705

Claim:
A vertebral registration device, comprising: a connector adapted to connect to an identification superstructure that is used for location identification during surgery; and a vertebral engagement portion coupled to the connector, the vertebral engagement portion being adapted to expand from a compact configuration to an expanded configuration to secure the vertebral engagement portion in a disc space between adjacent vertebrae, the vertebral engagement portion when in the compact configuration being able to fit into the disc space, the vertebral engagement portion when in the expanded configuration inside the disc space engages the adjacent vertebrae; wherein the connector includes an enlarged end portion having a plurality of radially oriented ridges, a coupling member defining a first hole extending along a first axis, the coupling member having a first set of ridges radially oriented around the first hole, a fastener received in the first hole to mate the first set of ridges of the coupling member with the ridges on the enlarged end portion in an interdigiting fashion and to allow rotational repositioning the coupling member relative to the enlarged end portion, and the coupling member defining a second hole extending along a second axis that is orthogonal to the first axis, the coupling member having a second set of ridges radially oriented around the second hole, the second set of ridges being constructed and arranged to mate in an interdigiting fashion with ridges on the identification superstructure.