Patent ID: 7632282

Claim:
Instrumentation for inserting an intervertebral disc prosthesis having a height, the instrumentation comprising: a guide comprising at least two lateral faces, at least one upper plate, at least one lower plate separated from the at least one upper plate by a distance at least equal to the height of the intervertebral disc prosthesis, at least one retainer, a cage defining an insertion axis for the intervertebral disc prosthesis and having open posterior and anterior faces, the cage being configured to receive the prosthesis through the open posterior face and to allow the insertion of the intervertebral disc prosthesis through the open anterior face into an intervertebral space between an upper vertebra and a lower vertebra, and an angle adjuster adapted to position the guide opposite the intervertebral space and to adjust an angle formed by the insertion axis and an antero-posterior reference axis; at least one separator sized to maintain a gap between the upper vertebra and the lower vertebra, the gap being sufficient for insertion of the intervertebral disc prosthesis through the guide into the intervertebral space between the upper vertebra and the lower vertebra; at least one pin for implantation into at least one of the upper vertebra and the lower vertebra in approximate orientation with the antero-posterior reference axis of said vertebra; at least one offset adjuster adjustably linking the angle adjuster to the at least one pin; at least one contact adjuster disposed approximately parallel to the insertion axis; a coupling between the at least one contact adjuster and the angle adjuster allowing movement of the angle adjuster with respect to the at least one contact adjuster; and a connector configured to move along the longitudinal axis of the pin and to connect the at least one offset adjuster to the at least one pin.