System and method for intervertebral implant delivery and removal

Abstract

An implant system provides motion preservation or stabilization between two spinal vertebrae. An associated instrumentation system is capable of delivering and removing the implants from either the anterior, left lateral or right lateral positions. The instrumentation system also provides instrumentation for delivering the implant end plates into the disc space, adjusting the position of the end plates in situ, compressing end plates into the vertebral bodies, interoperatively determining the height and angulation of bearings, delivering bearings together and then independently connecting them to the end plates. The system provides alternative instrumentation for revising the motion preservation disc from at least three directions. The system further provides alternative instrumentation for converting the motion preservation disc system to an interbody fusion device from at least three directions.

1 . An intervertebral implant delivery system comprising:
 a compression instrument comprising a first end and a second end;   wherein, in response to actuation of the second end, the first end exerts compressive force in a cephalad-caudal direction on first and second end plates of an intervertebral implant within an intervertebral space to secure the end plates to an intermediate component positioned between the end plates.   
     
     
         2 . The intervertebral implant delivery system of  claim 1 , wherein the end plates are configured to be anchored to first and second vertebral bodies bounding the intervertebral space; wherein the first end is configured to exert the compressive force on the end plates without removing the end plates from anchorage to the first and second vertebral bodies. 
     
     
         3 . The intervertebral implant delivery system of  claim 1 , wherein the first end comprises a pair of tongs; wherein the second end comprises a handle and a compression lever that is movable by hand relative to the handle to urge the tongs to move toward each other. 
     
     
         4 . The intervertebral implant delivery system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first end plate holder configured to deliver the first end plate to an intervertebral space;   a second end plate holder configured to deliver the second end plate to the intervertebral space; and   a pivot assembly that couples the first and second end plate holders together.   
     
     
         5 . The intervertebral implant delivery system of  claim 4 , further comprising an intermediate component holder configured to deliver a first intermediate component securable to the end plates to the intervertebral space. 
     
     
         6 . An intervertebral implant delivery system comprising:
 a removal instrument comprising a first end and a second end;   wherein, in response to actuation of the second end, the first end exerts force in a cephalad-caudal direction on first and second end plates of an intervertebral implant within an intervertebral space to detach an intermediate component from the first and second end plates.   
     
     
         7 . The intervertebral implant delivery system of  claim 6 , wherein the end plates are configured to be anchored to first and second vertebral bodies bounding the intervertebral space;  wherein the first end is configured to exert the force on the end plates without removing the end plates from anchorage to the first and second vertebral bodies. 
     
     
         8 . The intervertebral implant delivery system of  claim 6 , wherein the second end comprises a handle and the first end comprises a pair of prongs shaped to slide between the end plates to pry the end plates apart. 
     
     
         9 . The intervertebral implant delivery system of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a first end plate holder configured to deliver the first end plate to an intervertebral space;   a second end plate holder configured to deliver the second end plate to the intervertebral space; and   a pivot assembly that couples the first and second end plate holders together.   
     
     
         10 . The intervertebral implant delivery system of  claim 9 , further comprising an intermediate component holder configured to deliver a first intermediate component securable to the end plates to the intervertebral space.