Importance

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Abstract

An apparatus for facilitating fusion of adjacent vertebrae, In one preferred embodiment, the apparatus for facilitating fusion of adjacent vertebrae includes a retractor and a retractor introducer. The retractor includes a retractor sleeve having proximal and distal ends and defines a longitudinal passageway for reception of surgical instrumentation. The retractor sleeve has first and second retractor arms extending distally therefrom in a general longitudinal direction. Each retractor arm has first and second opposed supporting surfaces for engaging respective adjacent opposed vertebrae. Each retractor arm defines a dimension between the first and second supporting surfaces sufficient to distract the opposed vertebrae upon insertion thereof. The retractor introducer is positionable within the longitudinal passageway of the retractor sleeve. The retractor introducer includes an elongated member defining proximal and distal ends and having a distal introducer head. The introducer head has a retractor arm insert. The retractor arm insert preferably defines a cross-sectional dimension to substantially occupy the inner area defined by the retractor arms of the retractor and possesses sufficient rigidity to advance within the tissue portions thereby facilitating placement of the first and second retractor arms of the retractor between the vertebral portions in distracting engagement therewith. The introducer head of the retractor introducer may also define a proximal portion which has a cross-sectional dimension generally corresponding to the internal dimension of the retractor sleeve to thereby substantially minimize entry of tissue within the retractor sleeve during placement between the opposed vertebrae. Preferably, the cross-sectional dimension of the proximal portion of the introducer head is slightly less than the internal dimension of the retractor sleeve.

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First Claim