Patent ID: 8357167

Claim:
An apparatus for preparing an intervertebral space for implantation of an artificial intervertebral disc therein, the apparatus comprising: first and second apparatus baseplates integrally coupled to a trunk extending between the first and second apparatus baseplates, wherein the first and second apparatus baseplates and the trunk form a monolithic, solid structure, each apparatus baseplate having inwardly and outwardly facing surfaces, the inwardly facing surfaces facing each other and the outwardly facing surfaces each approximating a contour of a corresponding outwardly facing surface of a disc baseplate of the artificial intervertebral disc, each of the apparatus baseplates having a plurality of engagement holes extending into the inwardly facing surface thereof in a direction substantially perpendicular to each of a plurality of surgical approach directions used to insert the apparatus into the intervertebral space, each of the plurality of engagement holes being disposed on the at least one of the apparatus baseplates to correspond to a respective one of the surgical approach directions such that selection for use of one of the plurality of engagement holes corresponds to selection of the respective surgical approach, wherein each baseplate comprises an anteriorly facing surface extending perpendicular to an anterior surgical approach direction of the plurality of surgical approach directions and two anterio-laterally facing surfaces each extending at an angle from the anteriorly facing surface and extending perpendicular to a respective one of anterior-lateral surgical approach directions of the plurality of surgical approach directions, the anteriorly facing surface being between and intersecting with the two anterior-laterally facing surfaces, wherein each of the plurality of engagement holes of apparatus baseplate has a longitudinal axis spaced apart from and located centrally to one of the anteriorly facing surface and the two anterio-laterally facing surfaces, and wherein at least some of the plurality of engagement holes of the second apparatus baseplate are respectively located at the intersections of one of the anterior-laterally facing surfaces and the anteriorly facing surface.