Patent ID: 7811331

Claim:
A kit for use in the distraction of tissue surfaces in a given direction, comprising a plurality of elements adapted to be inserted in contact with each other between tissue surfaces to be distracted and to form upon insertion a stacked support structure that generates sufficient outward force to distract said tissue surfaces, wherein each of said elements includes a leading end and a trailing end, at least the leading end of one of said elements comprising an angled surface; said elements comprising complementary cooperating interfaces configured to restrain elements from slipping out of the structure; and an inserter for consecutively inserting said plurality of elements between said tissue surfaces in a manner such that such elements are placed in contact with each other in a direction generally extending in the given direction, wherein said elements are tethered together to form a continuous linear string of elements; said inserter comprising a delivery track for supporting said elements linearly one behind the other, said inserter further comprising a pusher to move said elements into said tissue.