Surgical instrumentation and method

Abstract

A surgical instrument includes a first member having an inner surface and an outer surface. A second member has an inner surface and an outer surface. At least one of the inner surfaces defines at least one mating element and the outer surfaces are engageable with tissue. The members are relatively movable between a first configuration and a second configuration to space the tissue and define an opening between the members. At least one third member defines at least one mating element engageable with the at least one mating element of the inner surface such that the at least one third member is disposed within the opening. Systems and methods are disclosed.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A surgical instrument comprising:
 a first member having a first handle portion connected to a first blade by a first arm, the first blade comprising a first inner surface defining a first mating element;   a second member having a second handle portion connected to a second blade by a second arm, the second blade comprising a second inner surface, a space between the second inner surface and the first inner surface defining an opening, the first handle portion being coupled the second handle portion such that the first handle portion is pivotable relative to the second handle portion about a pivot axis to selectively increase and decrease an angle between the first arm and the second arm; and   a third member defining a second mating element engageable with the first mating element such that the third member is disposed within the opening.   
     
     
         22 . The surgical instrument recited in  claim 21 , wherein the angle is an acute angle. 
     
     
         23 . The surgical instrument recited in  claim 21 , wherein the first handle portion is pivotable relative to the second handle portion about the pivot axis to move the surgical instrument between a first orientation in which the angle is a 0 degree angle and a second orientation in which the angle is an acute angle. 
     
     
         24 . The surgical instrument recited in  claim 21 , wherein the first handle portion is pivotable relative to the second handle portion about the pivot axis to move the surgical instrument between a first orientation in which the first blade directly engages the second blade and a second orientation in which the first blade is spaced apart from the second blade. 
     
     
         25 . The surgical instrument recited in  claim 21 , wherein the first handle portion is pivotable relative to the second handle portion about the pivot axis to move the surgical instrument between a first orientation in which the first blade is connected to the second blade and a second orientation in which the first blade is not connected to the second blade. 
     
     
         26 . The surgical instrument recited in  claim 21 , wherein:
 the first handle portion is fixed relative to the first arm and the first arm is fixed relative to the first blade; and   the second handle portion is fixed relative to the second arm and the second arm is fixed relative to the second blade.   
     
     
         27 . The surgical instrument recited in  claim 21 , wherein the third member has a maximum length that is equal to a maximum length of the first blade and a maximum length of the second blade. 
     
     
         28 . The surgical instrument recited in  claim 21 , further comprising a fourth member, the fourth member comprises a body and a rod, the body being configured for disposal in the opening such that a first outer surface of the body engages the first inner surface and an opposite second outer surface of the body engages the second inner surface, the rod being removably disposed in a cannulation of the body. 
     
     
         29 . The surgical instrument recited in  claim 21 , wherein the first blade defines a first longitudinal axis and the second blade defines a second longitudinal axis that extends parallel to the first longitudinal axis, the pivot axis extending parallel to the longitudinal axes. 
     
     
         30 . The surgical instrument recited in  claim 21 , wherein the first mating element is a longitudinal groove and the second mating element is a flange. 
     
     
         31 . The surgical instrument recited in  claim 21 , wherein the second inner surface defines a third mating element, the third member defining a fourth mating element engageable with the third mating element. 
     
     
         32 . The surgical instrument recited in  claim 31 , wherein the first mating element and the third mating element are longitudinal grooves and the second mating element and the fourth mating element are flanges. 
     
     
         33 . A surgical instrument comprising:
 a first member having a first handle portion connected to a first blade by a first arm, the first blade comprising a first inner surface defining a first mating element and a second mating element;   a second member having a second handle portion connected to a second blade by a second arm, the second blade comprising a second inner surface, a space between the second inner surface and the first inner surface defining an opening, the first handle portion being coupled the second handle portion such that the first handle portion is pivotable relative to the second handle portion about a pivot axis to selectively increase and decrease an angle between the first arm and the second arm;   a third member defining a third mating element engageable with the first mating element such that the third member is disposed within the opening; and   a fourth member defining a fourth mating element engageable with the second mating element such that the fourth member is disposed within the opening.   
     
     
         34 . The surgical instrument recited in  claim 33 , wherein the first mating element and the second mating element are longitudinal grooves and the third mating element and the fourth mating element are flanges. 
     
     
         35 . The surgical instrument recited in  claim 33 , wherein the second inner surface includes a fifth mating element and a sixth mating element, the third member comprising a seventh mating element engageable with the fifth mating element, the fourth member comprising an eighth mating element engageable with the sixth mating element. 
     
     
         36 . The surgical instrument recited in  claim 35 , wherein the first, second, third and fourth mating elements are longitudinal grooves and the third, fourth, seventh and eighth mating elements are flanges. 
     
     
         37 . The surgical instrument recited in  claim 33 , wherein:
 the first handle portion is fixed relative to the first arm and the first arm is fixed relative to the first blade; and   the second handle portion is fixed relative to the second arm and the second arm is fixed relative to the second blade.   
     
     
         38 . The surgical instrument recited in  claim 33 , wherein the first handle portion is pivotable relative to the second handle portion about the pivot axis to move the surgical instrument between a first orientation in which the angle is a 0 degree angle and a second orientation in which the angle is an acute angle. 
     
     
         39 . The surgical instrument recited in  claim 33 , wherein the first handle portion is pivotable relative to the second handle portion about the pivot axis to move the surgical instrument between a first orientation in which the first blade is connected to the second blade and a second orientation in which the first blade is not connected to the second blade. 
     
     
         40 . A surgical instrument comprising:
 a first member having a first handle portion connected to a first blade by a first arm, the first handle portion being fixed relative to the first arm and the first arm being fixed relative to the first blade, the first blade comprising a first inner surface defining a first mating element;   a second member having a second handle portion connected to a second blade by a second arm, the second handle portion being fixed relative to the second arm and the second arm being fixed relative to the second blade, the second blade comprising a second inner surface, a space between the second inner surface and the first inner surface defining an opening, the first handle portion being coupled the second handle portion such that the first handle portion is pivotable relative to the second handle portion about a pivot axis to selectively increase and decrease an angle between the first arm and the second arm; and   a third member defining a second mating element engageable with the first mating element such that the third member is disposed within the opening.   wherein the first handle portion is pivotable relative to the second handle portion about the pivot axis to move the surgical instrument between a first orientation in which the angle is a 0 degree angle and a second orientation in which the angle is an acute angle, and   wherein the first blade directly engages the second blade when the surgical instrument is in the first orientation and the first blade is not connected to the second blade when the surgical instrument is in the second orientation.