Patent ID: 8562681

Claim:
A system for use in a laminoplasty procedure, the system comprising: an implant comprising a first body and a second body, the first and second bodies adapted to slide relative to one another to expand or compress the implant; and an implantation instrument comprising: a shaft having a longitudinal length, a proximal end, a distal end and a hollow throughbore along at least a portion of its length; a handle positioned on the proximal end of the shaft; an actuator rod having a proximal portion and a distal portion, the actuator rod being positioned within the hollow throughbore of the shaft; a knob adapted to engage the proximal portion of the actuator rod; a first connector adapted to engage the distal portion of the actuator rod; and a second connector fixedly secured to the distal end of the shaft, wherein one of the first or second connectors is adapted to be removeably coupled to one of the first or second bodies, and the other of the first or second connectors is adapted to be removeably coupled to the other of the first or second bodies, wherein actuation of the knob slides at least one of the first or second bodies relative to the other.