Patent ID: 8636804

Claim:
An apparatus for bringing baseplates of an artificial intervertebral disc substantially parallel to one another in an intervertebral space, wherein the disc comprises an upper baseplate and a lower baseplate coupled to one another by a central coupling between the baseplates, which central coupling permits the baseplates to articulate relative to one another, including articulating such that the baseplates are substantially non-parallel to one another and including articulating such that the baseplates are substantially parallel to one another, the baseplates being separated from one another by a separation space volume when the baseplates are substantially parallel, the apparatus comprising: at least one shaft having a distal end and a longitudinal axis; and one pair of tines extending parallel to one another from the shaft distal end in a same direction as that of the longitudinal axis, the tines each having inner and outer surfaces, the inner surfaces forming a central pocket forward of the shaft distal end between the tines, the tines each further having a flat upper surface and a curved lower surface, the upper and lower surfaces intersecting with the inner and outer surfaces, the lower surfaces tapering entirely from the respective outer surfaces to the respective inner surfaces in a direction towards the longitudinal axis such that the tines have a greater thickness at the outer surfaces than at the inner surfaces thereof, wherein the tines are spaced and sized to be insertable and fittable between the baseplates, wherein the central coupling is located between the tines during the insertion and when so fitted, such that when the baseplates are substantially non-parallel to one another in the intervertebral space, insertion of the tines into the intervertebral space between the baseplates forces the baseplates into a substantially parallel orientation relative to one another as the flat upper surface of the tines contacts a flat inwardly facing surface of the upper baseplate and the curved lower surface of the tines contacts a curved inwardly facing surface of the lower baseplate.