Patent ID: 8734515

Claim:
A surgical device for distraction and insertion of intevertebral implant material in an intervertebral space between adjacent vertebrae, the device comprising: an elongated barrel; an operative end formed on a distally-located end of the barrel having a non-uniform cross section comprised of a first dimension and a second dimension different from the first dimension, the operative end for engaging the adjacent vertebrae, wherein the operative end includes a plurality of slots allowing at least the operative end to be expanded, wherein the plurality of slots include at least one slot in both a major dimension and a minor dimension corresponding to the first dimension and the second dimension, respectively; a cannula leading from a proximally-located portion of the barrel to an opening thereof, the opening at the operative end for disposing of the implant material therefrom; wherein the operative end minor dimension is sized to be received between the adjacent vertebrae in an initial insertion position, the major dimension is sized for distracting the adjacent vertebrae to permit the implant material to be disposed thereinto, the vertebrae being distracted by rotation of the operative end after the initial insertion, and the implant material is retained within the cannula during rotation of the operative end; and wherein, when the implant material is advanced through the operative end, the major dimension is permitted to increase by increasing a dimension of the plurality of slots as a result of the expanding force exerted by the implant material on the operative end.