Patent ID: 8470043

Claim:
An intervertebral disc preparation system for preparing an intervertebral disc space for implantation of a prosthetic device, comprising: a guide member having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, the distal end portion of the guide member changeable from a generally linear deployment configuration for insertion into the intervertebral disc space to a predefined less linear deployed configuration within the intervertebral disc space; at least one elongated member having a distal end portion and an outer surface, the elongated member adapted to be moveable longitudinally along the guide member; and at least one tissue manipulator for manipulating tissue within the intervertebral disc space, the tissue manipulator being one or more of a tissue cutter for cutting tissue, a tissue scraper for scraping tissue and a tissue extractor for removing tissue from the intervertebral disc space, the tissue manipulator being located at the distal end portion of the elongated member and having at least one tissue manipulation surface that is spaced in a radial direction from the outer surface of the elongated member.