Patent ID: 7465305

Claim:
A tool for insertion between a first vertebra with a first cortical bone plate and a second vertebra with a second cortical bone plate, said tool comprising: a proximal handle connected to an elongate shaft, said shaft extending along a longitudinal axis in a distal direction from said proximal handle to an opposite distal end, said shaft being configured to rotate about said longitudinal axis; a first non-cutting portion adjacent said distal end of said shaft, said shaft extending through said first non-cutting portion and being configured to rotate relative thereto; a cutting portion fixed to said shaft to rotate therewith, said cutting portion including a first end located toward said first non-cuffing portion and said cutting portion extends in the distal direction from said first end along said longitudinal axis to a second and opposite said first end, said cutting portion including a first pair of generally parallel opposing faces and a second pair of opposing faces each extending between said first pair of faces, said second pair of faces each defining a number of teeth; a second non-cutting portion fixed to said cutting portion, said second non-cutting portion defining a distal head extending in the distal direction from said second end of said cutting portion; and wherein said first non-cutting portion, said cutting portion, and said second non-cutting portion have a first alignment to present a generally constant height dimension extending along said first pair of opposing faces of said cutting portion and aligned faces of said first non-cutting portion, the height dimension corresponding to an intersomatic space defined between the first and second cortical bone plates to facilitate insertion of the tool therein, said cutting portion being adapted to rotate relative to said first non-cutting portion to a second alignment where said second pair of opposed faces of said cutting portion are aligned with said aligned faces of said first non-cutting portion and said second pair of opposed faces define a height that projects said cutting portion outwardly from said aligned faces of said first non-cutting portion for cutting a first opening into the first cortical bone plate and a second opening into the second cortical bone plate while said first non-cutting portion is inserted therebetween.