Patent ID: 7063700

Claim:
A system for use in spinal surgery, said system comprising: a cannula having a proximal end, a distal end opposite said proximal end, a mid-longitudinal axis passing through said proximal and distal ends, a length from said proximal end to said distal end, a sidewall connecting said proximal and distal ends, and a hollow interior, said sidewall completely surrounding the mid-longitudinal axis of said cannula along a majority of the length of said cannula; and a surgical instrument comprising: an elongated handle having opposed ends with a length therebetween, a height, and a rounded gripping portion along the length of said handle, the length of said handle being the maximum dimension of said handle, said handle having a midpoint halfway between said opposed ends; a shaft having a proximal end, a distal end, and a longitudinal central axis between said proximal and distal ends, said proximal end of said shaft being connected to said handle, the longitudinal central axis of said shaft extending through the height of said handle and being offset from the midpoint of said handle; and an arm extending radially from said shaft proximate said distal end of said shaft, said arm terminating in a surface adapted to directly contact and displace cancellous bone in response to moving said shaft, said arm having a longitudinal axis extending through said shaft and through said surface, said surface being adapted to make a path through the cancellous bone in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal central axis of said shaft, said shaft having a length sufficient to permit said arm to extend beyond said distal end of said cannula when said shaft is inserted into said cannula.