US 11,857,438 B2
Methods and apparatus for intervertebral disc prosthesis insertion
Malan de Villiers, Wapadrand (ZA); Ulrich Hahnle, Johannesburg (ZA); and David Hovda, Mountain View, CA (US)
Assigned to Simplify Medical Pty Ltd, Sunnyvale, CA (US)
Filed by Simplify Medical Pty Ltd, Sunnyvale, CA (US)
Filed on Dec. 3, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/111,357.
Application 12/044,175 is a division of application No. 10/913,780, filed on Aug. 6, 2004, granted, now 7,585,326, issued on Sep. 8, 2009.
Application 17/111,357 is a continuation of application No. 16/122,805, filed on Sep. 5, 2018, granted, now 10,888,437.
Application 16/122,805 is a continuation of application No. 14/612,550, filed on Feb. 3, 2015, granted, now 10,085,853, issued on Oct. 2, 2018.
Application 14/612,550 is a continuation of application No. 12/650,231, filed on Dec. 30, 2009, granted, now 8,974,531, issued on Mar. 10, 2015.
Application 12/650,231 is a continuation of application No. 12/044,175, filed on Mar. 7, 2008, abandoned.
Prior Publication US 2021/0106437 A1, Apr. 15, 2021
Int. Cl. A61F 2/46 (2006.01); A61F 2/44 (2006.01); A61B 17/02 (2006.01); A61F 2/30 (2006.01)
CPC A61F 2/4611 (2013.01) [A61F 2/442 (2013.01); A61F 2/4425 (2013.01); A61F 2/4455 (2013.01); A61F 2/4465 (2013.01); A61B 17/025 (2013.01); A61B 2017/0256 (2013.01); A61F 2/4603 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30518 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30649 (2013.01); A61F 2002/443 (2013.01); A61F 2002/4615 (2013.01); A61F 2002/4622 (2013.01); A61F 2002/4627 (2013.01); A61F 2002/4628 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system for inserting an intervertebral prosthesis into a space between two adjacent vertebrae, the system comprising:
an intervertebral prosthesis having two endplates movable with respect to one another, wherein the two endplates of the intervertebral prosthesis have a width in a lateral direction of the endplates between opposite lateral sides of the endplates, wherein the width is greater than a depth in an anterior/posterior direction of the endplates;
a prosthesis grasping device, wherein the prosthesis grasping device is configured to insert the two endplates in an assembled configuration into the space between two adjacent vertebrae and wherein the prosthesis grasping device is configured to grasp the two endplates from an anterior side of the endplates with movable opposing jaws configured to articulate laterally in a same plane as the width of the intervertebral prosthesis; and
at least one prosthesis pusher device which is discrete from the prosthesis grasping device, the prosthesis pusher device having a distal end configured to push against the endplates of the intervertebral prosthesis, wherein after the intervertebral prosthesis is inserted into the space, the at least one prosthesis pusher device is used to engage and push the prosthesis farther into the space.