Intervertebral disc implant

Abstract

Systems and tools for inserting and securing an implant within the intervertebral space. An intervertebral disc implant with upper and lower bearing members with an articulation interface between the members for providing relative motion therebetween. The implant may be provided with various securing members for fixing the implant within the intervertebral space. A tool may be used to insert the implant, which includes a plurality of shiftable implant engaging members that are shiftable between non-engaging and engaging configurations to alternatively release or hold the implant.

1 .- 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . An integrated trial spacer and drill guide for sizing and preparing an intervertebral space for an intervertebral implant, the integrated trial spacer and drill guide comprising:
 a distal trial spacer portion sized and configured for being inserted between adjacent vertebral bones with an upper surface for being positioned adjacent an upper vertebral bone and a lower surface for being positioned adjacent a lower vertebral bone for determining a size of the intervertebral space;   a drill guide portion located proximally from the distal trial spacer portion including at least one throughbore extending through the drill guide portion for receiving and guiding a drill bit within the throughbore along a longitudinal axis of thereof;   wherein one of the upper and lower surfaces of the trial spacer portion is configured to guide the drill bit as it is advanced distally.   
     
     
         17 . The integrated trial spacer and drill guide of  claim 16 , wherein each of the upper and lower surfaces of the trial spacer portion are separately configured to guide the drill bit as it is advanced distally. 
     
     
         18 . The integrated trial spacer and drill guide of  claim 16 , further comprising at least one groove in the upper or lower surface of the trial spacer portion having a longitudinal axis aligned with the longitudinal axis of the at least one throughbore for allowing a distal end of the drill bit to be advanced distally out from the throughbore, and along the aligned groove in the intervertebral space for forming an elongate groove in the adjacent upper or lower vertebral bone. 
     
     
         19 . The integrated trial spacer and drill guide of  claim 16 , wherein the at least one throughbore comprises first and second upper throughbores each for guiding a drill bit into the intervertebral space adjacent the upper surface of the distal trial spacer portion for forming a groove in the adjacent upper vertebral bone and a lower third throughbore for guiding a drill bit into the intervertebral space adjacent the lower surface of the distal trial spacer portion for forming a groove in the adjacent lower vertebral bone. 
     
     
         20 . The integrated trial spacer and drill guide of  claim 19 , wherein the lower third throughbore includes a recessed tool receiving portion therein for receiving a corresponding gripping protrusion of an insertion tool. 
     
     
         21 . The integrated trial spacer and drill guide of  claim 19 , further comprising first and second upper grooves in the upper surface of the trial spacer portion and a third lower groove in the lower surface of the trial spacer portion with the first, second and third grooves each being longitudinally aligned with the first, second and third throughbores, respectively. 
     
     
         22 . The integrated trial spacer and drill guide of  claim 19 , wherein the third lower groove is located centrally in the lower surface of the trial spacer portion. 
     
     
         23 . The integrated trial spacer and drill guide of  claim 16 , wherein upper and lower surfaces of the trial spacer portion include respective upper and lower faces that are generally flat and extend obliquely to each another. 
     
     
         24 . The integrated trial spacer and drill guide of  claim 16 , wherein the drill guide has a proximal face, the at least one throughbore has a proximal end opening at the proximal face, and the proximal face includes at least one recess disposed adjacent the proximal end opening for receiving a corresponding guide protrusion of an insertion tool for the drill bit for fixing the integrated trial spacer and drill guide against axial rotation with respect to the insertion tool. 
     
     
         25 . The integrated trial spacer and drill guide of  claim 18 , wherein the at least one groove includes a proximal counterbored portion for accommodating an enlarged portion of the drill bit. 
     
     
         26 . A system for sizing and preparing a vertebral joint for an intervertebral implant, the system comprising:
 an integrated trial spacer and drill guide including a trial spacer portion configured to be inserted into an intervertebral space between adjacent vertebrae of the vertebral joint and a drill guide portion having a plurality of throughbores each with a longitudinal axis configured to receive and guide a drill bit as the drill bit is advanced along the longitudinal axis into the intervertebral space;   a drill bit set including a plurality of drill bits having shafts of differing lengths; and   a trial spacer inserter tool configured to releasably hold the integrated trial spacer and drill guide at an inserter tool engagement portion thereof.   
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 26 , wherein the plurality of drill bits each include a distal end, a proximal end, and a cutting portion including a distal cutting surface at the distal end and a counterbore cutting portion located proximally of the distal cutting surface for forming a counterbore in one of the adjacent vertebrae. 
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein the plurality of drill bits each includes a collar which is enlarged relative to the cutting portion and which is located proximally of the cutting portion for providing an abutment surface to abut against a proximal end of the drill guide portion for limiting a distance the drill bit may be inserted into the intervertebral space. 
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 26 , wherein the plurality of drill bits each includes a distal cutting portion having a diameter, wherein the distal cutting portion of each of the plurality of drill bits has the same diameter. 
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 26 , wherein the trial spacer inserter tool includes a shaft with a distal gripping portion configured to fit inside one of the plurality of throughbores for holding the integrated trial spacer and drill guide at the inserter tool engagement portion thereof in the one throughbore of the drill guide portion. 
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 30 , wherein the distal gripping portion is expandable in a radial direction for gripping the inserter tool engagement portion of the integrated trial spacer and drill guide. 
     
     
         32 . A method of preparing a vertebral joint for an intervertebral implant, the method comprising:
 inserting an integrated trial spacer and drill guide into a space between adjacent upper and lower vertebral bones;   inserting a first drill bit into a drill guide portion of the integrated trial spacer and drill guide;   forming a first groove in one of the upper and lower vertebral bones with the first drill bit;   inserting a second drill bit into the drill guide portion;   forming a second groove in one of the upper and lower vertebral bones with the second drill bit while the first drill bit is positioned within the first groove and the drill guide portion.   
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the first and second grooves are formed in the upper vertebral bone. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 32 , further comprising forming a counterbore in the one of the upper and lower vertebral bones at a proximal portion of the first groove. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the second drill bit is longer than the first drill bit. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 32 , further comprising:
 inserting a third drill bit into the drill guide;   forming a third groove in one of the upper and lower vertebral bones with the third drill bit while the first and second drill bits are positioned respectively within the first and second grooves, and within the drill guide portion.   
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein two of the first, second, and third grooves are formed in the upper vertebral bone, and the other of the first, second, and third grooves is formed in the lower vertebral bone. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the third drill bit is longer than the second drill bit. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the integrated trial spacer and drill guide is inserted into the space between adjacent upper and lower vertebral bones with an insertion tool to which the integrated trial spacer and drill guide is removably attached. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 39 , further comprising removing the insertion tool from the integrated trial spacer and drill guide after the first and second grooves are formed;
 inserting a third drill bit into the drill guide;   forming a third groove in one of the upper and lower vertebral bones with the third drill bit while the first and second drill bits are positioned respectively within the first and second grooves, and within the drill guide portion.