US Patent 7547309 Distractor for lumbar insertion instrument

An instrument and method are disclosed for inserting an artificial intervertebral disc implant having upper and lower parts and a pivot element therebetween into an intervertebral space. The instrument has a mounting structure, and an elongated upper arm and elongated lower arms, the arms being pivotally attached to the mounting structure. A distractor separates the upper and lower arms, and hence the upper and lower parts, when moving along the arms so as to permit insertion of the pivot element. The distractor includes a fork arm that extends beyond a main body thereof to engage and support with heads thereof a facing surface of the upper and/or lower part during and following separation of the parts.