Methods and apparatus for insertion of vertebral body distraction and fusion devices

摘要

An inserter can be used to implant a distractible intervertebral body fusion device into a disc space and expand the device. The inserter includes a shaft frame and a drive shaft assembly for expanding the device and a support shaft assembly for stabilizing the device extending distally from the shaft frame. A drive housing can be operably connected to the shaft frame and extend outwardly from shaft frame distal of a proximal end of the shaft frame. Drive housing can have an internal passage that provides access into the shaft frame to a proximal end of the drive shaft assembly. An actuation tool can be disposed with the drive housing with a distal end extending through the access into the shaft frame to interface with the proximal end of the drive shaft assembly such that activation of the actuation tool rotates the drive shaft assembly to expand the device.

主权项

1. An inserter for inserting and expanding a distractible intervertebral body fusion device into an intervertebral disc space defined between adjacent vertebrae of a patient, comprising:
a shaft frame having a proximal end and a distal end; a drive shaft assembly extending from the distal end of the shaft frame, the drive shaft assembly adapted to be attached to a distractible intervertebral body fusion device such that rotation of the drive shaft assembly causes the device to expand between a compressed configuration and an expanded configuration; a support shaft assembly extending from the distal end of the shaft frame adjacent the drive shaft assembly, the support shaft assembly adapted to be attached to the distractible intervertebral body fusion device to stabilize the device as the drive shaft assembly is rotated to expand the device; and a drive housing operably connected to the shaft frame and extending outwardly from the shaft frame and non-coaxially with the drive shaft assembly, the drive housing extending from the shaft frame at a location between the distal end and the proximal end of the shaft frame, the drive housing providing access into the shaft frame to a proximal end of the drive shaft assembly.