| abstract |
A holder is provided which couples to the spine. In an embodiment, the holder has two conduits into which sleeves may be inserted during a spinal fusion procedure. The holder may have a distractor extending from the bottom of the holder. The distractor secures the holder to the spine and maintains a proper separation distance between adjacent vertebrae. The sides of the distractor may be serrated to better secure the holder to the spine. The sleeves and conduits serve as alignment guides for instruments and implants used during the procedure. In an embodiment, the holder may include holes for fasteners that fixably secure the holder to vertebrae adjacent to a disk space. A flange may be placed around the holder to shield surrounding tissue and to provide a placement location for adjacent blood vessels during the spinal fusion procedure. |