Patent ID: 7776045

Claim:
An instrument for distracting adjacent vertebrae, comprising: a first distraction member positionable along an endplate of one of the adjacent vertebrae; a second distraction member positionable along an endplate of the other of the adjacent vertebrae; and a shaft assembly extending proximally from said first and second distraction members along a longitudinal axis, said shaft assembly including a coupling member at a distal end thereof with said first and second distraction members coupled to said coupling member, said shaft assembly being operable to move said distraction members relative to one another between an unexpanded configuration and an expanded configuration to separate the adjacent vertebrae, wherein said shaft assembly is pivotal about said coupling member to assume any one of a plurality of orientations relative to said first and second distraction members while said first and second distraction members are maintained in position relative to one another, wherein said first and second distraction members include at least two pins extending toward one another and at least two bores for receiving respective ones of said pins therein and further comprising at least one spring engaged between said first and second distraction members to bias said first and second distraction members toward said unexpanded configuration.