Patent ID: 8709088

Claim:
A bone graft insertion apparatus comprising: a hollow tube constructed to receive bone graft, said hollow tube having an extended axis and a proximal end and a distal end, said hollow tube having a rectangular interior cross-section from said proximal end to said distal end, said distal end having a tapered tip interior surface with a terminus and two oval-shaped openings having an upper and a lower end located on opposite lateral sides of said distal end, said tapered tip interior surface extending into said hollow tube and said terminus positioned adjacent to said oval-shaped openings, said hollow tube of single-piece construction; and a plunger adapted for inserting into said proximal end of said hollow tube along the extended axis, said plunger having a distal end exterior surface of rectangular cross-section contoured to said interior cross-section of said hollow tube, said plunger of single-piece construction with a distal exterior tip, said plunger distal end exterior surface of rectangular cross-section forming a substantially congruent fit with said hollow tube rectangular interior cross-section, wherein said hollow tube and said plunger are configured to deliver bone graft material to a graft receiving area through one or more lateral openings near said distal end of said hollow tube, said plunger having an axial length at least sufficient wherein at a least a portion of said plunger distal end is positioned adjacent to said one or more lateral openings when fully inserted into said hollow tube, said one or more lateral openings substantially precluding the delivery of bone graft material directly along said axis of said hollow tube, said plunger precluded from rotating when inserted into said hollow tube; wherein said distal end of said hollow tube is configured to detachably interconnect to a detachable hollow implant, said implant having a tapered distal end which spans the extended axis and forms the most distal end of the bone graft insertion apparatus when attached to said hollow tube; wherein said distal exterior tip of said plunger is configured to remain always proximal to the tapered distal end of said hollow implant when said plunger is inserted into said hollow tube and said hollow implant is attached to said hollow tube.