Patent ID: 8562610

Claim:
A device to cut an intervertebral disc comprising: a plurality of cylindrical segments each having a first end and an opposing second end positioned a fixed distance apart, the first end having a pair of protrusions extending outwardly from a first end surface, the protrusions being positioned on opposing sides of the segment, the first end including a tab extending outwardly from the first end surface and positioned between the protrusions, the first end surface having a continuous convex curvature between the tab and at least one of the protrusions, the second end having a pair of receptacles having a shape that matches the pair of protrusions and being on the same opposing sides of the segment, the second end including a slot configured for disposal of the tab, one of the first and second ends having a sharpened cutting surface; the plurality of segments attached in an end-to-end articulating arrangement with the protrusions of a first one of the plurality of segments positioned in the receptacles of an adjacent one of the plurality of segments; the protrusions and the receptacles being attached together and aligned along a longitudinal axis for the plurality of segments to be movable in a variety of angular positions in a first plane and prevented from moving in a second plane that is perpendicular to the first plane, wherein the cutting surface is defined by at least one of a first portion of the first end surface extending between the tab and one of the protrusions and a second portion of the first end surface extending between the tab and the other protrusion, each of the segments including a non-cutting surface positioned between the pair of protrusions.