Spinal midline indicator

Abstract

A spinal midline indicator ( 10 ) has a body ( 14 ) of radiolucent material for insertion between adjacent vertebrae ( 18, 20 ) and a radiographic marker ( 12 ) located centrally with the body to indicate the position of the spinal midline ( 22 ) in anterior-posterior images when the body is centrally located between the vertebrae. The radiographic marker is typically an elongate metal handle. The body may carry secondary radiographic markers ( 16 ) on opposite sides of and equidistant from the handle so that the handle indicates the position of the spinal midline when the body is placed centrally between the vertebrae.

1 . A spinal midline indicator comprising:
 a body of radiolucent material sized and shaped to fit into an intervertebral space between two adjacent vertebrae; and   a radiographic marker formed as an elongated handle attached to and extending from the body along a central axis of the body in an anterior-posterior direction, wherein the handle is embedded in the body.