Patent ID: 7749231

Claim:
An instrument for separating bony structures, comprising: an actuator assembly; and a spreader assembly at a distal end of said actuator assembly, wherein said spreader assembly includes first and second spreading members positionable between the bony structures and movable away from and toward one another with said actuator assembly, at least one of said spreading members including a body portion and an extension member extending distally from said body portion adjacent a first side of said body portion and said extension member including a bone contacting surface with bone engagement features for engaging the bony structure positioned thereagainst, said body portion extending from said first side to an opposite second side, wherein said at least one spreading member includes a guide member extending distally from said body portion adjacent an inner surface of said body portion, said guide member extending between said first side and said second side, wherein said first and second spreading members each include: said body portion with said extension member extending distally from said body portion adjacent said first side thereof; and a second extension member spaced from said extension member and extending distally from said body portion adjacent said second side of said body portion, said second extension member including a bone contacting surface therealong; and said body portion of each of said first and second spreading members includes an outer surface and said inner surface thereof is oriented opposite said bone contacting surfaces of said extension members thereof, said body portions further each including a distal end wall concavely curved from said extension member to said second extension member, said guide member including a distal end located between said concavely curved distal end wall and distal ends of said extension members and a proximal end spaced proximally from a proximal end wall of said body portion opposite said concavely curved distal end wall, wherein said extension member and said second extension member each project outwardly from said inner surface of said body portion toward the other of said first and second spreading members.