US6712825B2 — Spinal disc space distractor

Claim 1

Independent Claim 124 words

A distractor comprising: first and second bandies defining a first longitudinal axis; first and second jaws respectively associated with said first and second handles; first and second blades respectively associated with said first and second jaws; and a distractor mechanism coupled between said handles and said jaws such that movement of said handles actuates said distractor mechanism to move said jaws apart along a second axis substantially perpendicular to the first longitudinal axis; wherein at least one jaw includes a mating fixture defining a third axis substantially perpendicular to a plane defined by the first and second axes, and at least one of said blades is formed with a mating portion configured for removable association with said mating fixture substantially along the third axis.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 124 words

A distractor comprising: first and second bandies defining a first longitudinal axis; first and second jaws respectively associated with said first and second handles; first and second blades respectively associated with said first and second jaws; and a distractor mechanism coupled between said handles and said jaws such that movement of said handles actuates said distractor mechanism to move said jaws apart along a second axis substantially perpendicular to the first longitudinal axis; wherein at least one jaw includes a mating fixture defining a third axis substantially perpendicular to a plane defined by the first and second axes, and at least one of said blades is formed with a mating portion configured for removable association with said mating fixture substantially along the third axis.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 45 words

The distractor of claim 1 , wherein each jaw includes a mating fixture in the form of a mounting socket and each blade includes a mating portion in the form of a mounting post shaped for removable association with said mounting socket of each jaw.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 26 words

The distractor of claim 2 , wherein each blade post is rotatably positioned within each mounting socket to selectively position the blades relative to one another.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 23 words

The distractor of claim 3 , further comprising a locking mechanism for locking the position of each blade post within its respective socket.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 14 words

The distractor of claim 4 , wherein the locking mechanism includes a ball detent.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 30 words

The distractor of claim 1 , wherein each blade mating portion is movably associated with each mating fixture when associated therewith to selectively position the blades relative to the jaws.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 22 words

The distractor of claim 1 , further comprising a locking mechanism for locking the mating portion in association with the mating fixture.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 24 words

The distractor of claim 1 , wherein the first and second blades extend at first and second angles relative tote first and second jaws.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 27 words

The distractor of claim 8 , wherein the first and second angles range from about 20° to 30° relative to a longitudinal axis of the distractor mechanism.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 40 words

The distractor of claim 1 , wherein the first blade has an insertion length and the second blade has an insertion length, and the insertion length of the first blade is different from the insertion length of the second blade.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 18 words

The distractor of claim 1 , wherein the first and second blades include at least one curved portion.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 18 words

The distractor of claim 1 , wherein the first and second jaws include at least one curved portion.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 43 words

The distractor of claim 1 , wherein the first and second blades each comprise a pair of spaced apart blades to contact anatomical elements to be distracted and permit insertion of an implant between said first and second blades and said anatomical elements.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 21 words

The distractor of claim 1 , wherein the first and second jaws are removably associated with the first and second handles.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 120 words

A distractor comprising: first and second handles defining a first longitudinal axis; first and second jaws respectively associated with said first and second handles; and a distractor mechanism coupled between said bandies and said jaws such that movement of said handles actuates said disfractor mechanism to move said jaws apart alone a second axis substantially perpendicular to the first longitudinal axis; wherein at least one of the first and second handles includes a mating fixture defining a third axis substantially perpendicular to a nine defined by the first and second axes, and at least one of said first and second jaws is formed with a mating portion configured for removable association with said mating fixture substantially along the third axis.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 120 words

A distractor comprising: first and second handles defining a first longitudinal axis; first and second jaws respectively associated with said first and second handles; and a distractor mechanism coupled between said bandies and said jaws such that movement of said handles actuates said disfractor mechanism to move said jaws apart alone a second axis substantially perpendicular to the first longitudinal axis; wherein at least one of the first and second handles includes a mating fixture defining a third axis substantially perpendicular to a nine defined by the first and second axes, and at least one of said first and second jaws is formed with a mating portion configured for removable association with said mating fixture substantially along the third axis.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 30 words

The distractor of claim 15 , wherein the mating fixture is a mounting socket and the mating portion is a mounting post configured for removable association with said mounting sockets.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 26 words

The distractor of claim 16 , wherein each mounting post is rotatably positionable within each mounting socket to selectively position the jaws relative to one another.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 23 words

The distractor of claim 17 , further comprising a locking mechanism for locking the position of each mounting post within its respective socket.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 14 words

The distractor of claim 18 , wherein the locking mechanism includes a ball detent.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 22 words

The distractor of claim 15 , further comprising a locking mechanism for looking the mating portion in association with the mating fixture.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 40 words

The distractor of claim 15 , wherein the first jaw has an insertion length and the second jaw has an insertion length, and the insertion length of the first jaw is different from the insertion length of the second jaw.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 18 words

The distractor of claim 15 , wherein the first and second jaws include at lest one curved portion.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 93 words

A distractor comprising: first and second handles defining a first longitudinal axis; first and second jaws respectively removably associated with said first and second handles; a distractor mechanism coupled between said handles and said jaws such that movement of said handles actuates said distractor mechanism to move said jaws apart along a second axis substantially perpendicular to the first longitudinal axis; and wherein the first and second laws are removably associated with the first and second handles substantially along a third axis perpendicular to a plane defined by the first and second axes.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 93 words

A distractor comprising: first and second handles defining a first longitudinal axis; first and second jaws respectively removably associated with said first and second handles; a distractor mechanism coupled between said handles and said jaws such that movement of said handles actuates said distractor mechanism to move said jaws apart along a second axis substantially perpendicular to the first longitudinal axis; and wherein the first and second laws are removably associated with the first and second handles substantially along a third axis perpendicular to a plane defined by the first and second axes.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 105 words

A distractor comprising: a proximal end having first and second handles located in a first plane; first and second jaws respectively associated with said first and second handles, said first and second jaws located in a second plane different from the first; first and second blades respectively associated with said first and second jaws; and a distractor mechanism coupled between said handles and said jaws such that movement of said handles actuates said distractor mechanism to move said jaws apart; and wherein the first plane is misled with respect to the second plane so as to permit visualization of the blades from the proximal end.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 105 words

A distractor comprising: a proximal end having first and second handles located in a first plane; first and second jaws respectively associated with said first and second handles, said first and second jaws located in a second plane different from the first; first and second blades respectively associated with said first and second jaws; and a distractor mechanism coupled between said handles and said jaws such that movement of said handles actuates said distractor mechanism to move said jaws apart; and wherein the first plane is misled with respect to the second plane so as to permit visualization of the blades from the proximal end.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 49 words

The distractor of claim 24 , wherein at least one jaw includes a mating fixture defining an axis substantially perpendicular to the second plane, and at least one of said blades is formed with a mating portion configured for removable association with said mating fixture substantially along said axis.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 45 words

The distractor of claim 24 , wherein each jaw includes a mating fixture in the form of a mounting socket and each blade includes a mating portion in the form of a mounting post shaped for removable association with said mounting socket of each jaw.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 30 words

The distractor of claim 26 , wherein each blade mating portion is movably associated with each mating fixture when associated therewith to selectively position the blades relative to the jaws.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 25 words

The dish-actor of claim 24 , wherein the first plane mid the second plane form an angle therebetween ranging from about 5° to about 30°.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 16 words

The distractor of claim 28 , wherein the angle ranges from about 5° to about 20°.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 12 words

The distractor of claim 28 , wherein the angle is substantially 15°.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2007-03-30	2007-09-29	2008-03-30	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2011-03-30	2011-09-29	2012-03-30	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2015-03-30	2015-09-29	2016-03-30	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Spinal disc space distractor

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