Patent ID: 7331963

Claim:
A device for preparing a space in a human spine to receive an insert between adjacent vertebral bodies, said device comprising: an elongated shaft portion including a drive shaft disposed therein, the drive shaft including a gear at its distal end, whereby the gear is configured to mate with corresponding teeth on the form cutter; a housing disposed at the distal end of said elongated shaft portion; a drive means; a drive source operably connected to said drive means, wherein the drive shaft is rotatably driven by the drive source; and a form cutter mountable on said housing and movable by said drive means, wherein: said form cutter has at least one top milling surface and bottom milling surface selected to create a surface contour in one of the adjacent vertebral bodies as said form cutter is moved by said drive means, the bottom milling surface is provided with a beveled gearing surface, said beveled gearing surface engages teeth on said gear, and said gear and said beveled gearing surface cooperate to rotate said form cutter as said drive shaft is rotatably driven.