Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
99 words
Apparatus for aligning adjacent vertebrae comprising: an elongate handle having a longitudinal bore therethrough; a mandrel positioned in-the bore in said handle and movable therein: a body comprised of first and second side-by-side members, the first member being mounted to the end of said handle and the second member being mounted to the end of said mandrel; and means formed on said body for selectively engaging adjacent vertebrae when said body is inserted therebetween to prevent relative movement between the respective first and second members and the respective adjacent vertebrae to which the first and second members are engaged.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
99 words
Apparatus for aligning adjacent vertebrae comprising: an elongate handle having a longitudinal bore therethrough; a mandrel positioned in-the bore in said handle and movable therein: a body comprised of first and second side-by-side members, the first member being mounted to the end of said handle and the second member being mounted to the end of said mandrel; and means formed on said body for selectively engaging adjacent vertebrae when said body is inserted therebetween to prevent relative movement between the respective first and second members and the respective adjacent vertebrae to which the first and second members are engaged.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said body is formed in substantially rectangularly-shaped cross-section, said vertebrae engaging means being formed on opposite sides thereof.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the height of said rectangularly-shaped body is less than the width of said body.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
60 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the sides of said rectangularly-shaped body defining the height of said body are arched from the first end of said body to the second end of said body to provide said body with a width in the portion intermediate the ends thereof which is larger than the width at the ends of said body.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said vertebrae engaging means comprises teeth formed on the surface of said body.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
43 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said mandrel and the bore of said handle are provided with matching threads whereby rotation of said mandrel causes movement of said mandrel relative to said handle in the direction of the longitudinal axis of said handle.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
100 words
Apparatus for aligning adjacent vertebrae when inserted therebetween comprising: an elongate mandrel; a first member formed on the end of said mandrel; an elongate handle having a bore therethrough, said mandrel being positioned in the bore and movable therein; a second member formed on the end of said handle, said first and second members forming an elongate body having a substantially rectangular cross-section when said mandrel is positioned in the bore in said handle and said first and second members are side-by-side; and a plurality of teeth formed on said first and second members for selectively engaging the adjacent vertebrae.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
100 words
Apparatus for aligning adjacent vertebrae when inserted therebetween comprising: an elongate mandrel; a first member formed on the end of said mandrel; an elongate handle having a bore therethrough, said mandrel being positioned in the bore and movable therein; a second member formed on the end of said handle, said first and second members forming an elongate body having a substantially rectangular cross-section when said mandrel is positioned in the bore in said handle and said first and second members are side-by-side; and a plurality of teeth formed on said first and second members for selectively engaging the adjacent vertebrae.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the body formed by said first and second members is formed in bi-planar, biconvex shape.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the ends of the elongate body formed by said first and second members are of smaller width than the middle of the body.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the teeth formed on said first and second members are located on the portion of said first and second members forming the middle portion of the body.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
43 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the side of said second member abutting said first member when said first and second members are side-by-side is provided with a half round hollow for retaining said first and second members in tight, parallel, side-by-side relationship.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
87 words
Apparatus for insertion between and alignment of adjacent vertebrae comprising: a body formed of first and second side-by-side elongate members: an elongate handle having said first member mounted thereto; an elongate mandrel having said second member mounted thereto and movable relative to and along the longitudinal axis of said handle for moving said first member relative to said second member along the longitudinal axis thereof: and a plurality of teeth formed on said body for engaging adjacent vertebrae when said body is inserted therebetween using said handle.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
87 words
Apparatus for insertion between and alignment of adjacent vertebrae comprising: a body formed of first and second side-by-side elongate members: an elongate handle having said first member mounted thereto; an elongate mandrel having said second member mounted thereto and movable relative to and along the longitudinal axis of said handle for moving said first member relative to said second member along the longitudinal axis thereof: and a plurality of teeth formed on said body for engaging adjacent vertebrae when said body is inserted therebetween using said handle.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
41 words
The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said body is substantially rectangularly-shaped in cross-section, the sides of said rectangularly-shaped body forming the width of said body having a dimension larger than the sides of said body forming the height of said body.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said teeth are formed on the sides of said body forming the height of said body.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the width of said body is smaller at the ends of said body than in the middle of said body.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the teeth are formed on the sides of said body forming the height of said body and in the portion of said body forming the middle of said body.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said handle is provided with a longitudinal bore and said mandrel is positioned therein.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
45 words
The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said second member is provided with a rounded surface for receiving a complementary-shaped surface on said first member for maintaining said first and second members in side-by-side alignment during movement of said first member relative to said second member.