Dovetail tome for implanting spinal fusion devices

Abstract

A tome for cutting at least one dovetail in bone is disclosed wherein said tome comprises: A) a shaft having first and second ends, said first end having attached thereto a blade shaped for cutting said dovetail in said bone and said second end having attached thereto an extension for engagement with mechanical energy transmission devices, and B) a depth stop on said shaft between said blade and said extension.

We claim:  
     
         31 . A tome for precisely cutting in at least one bone segment at least one groove having the shape of an intimately mating dovetail, said tome comprising a shaft having first and second ends, said first end having attached thereto a blade shaped for cutting said dovetail groove in said bone and said second end having attached thereto an extension for engagement with mechanical energy transmission devices, said blade having a shape comprising a plurality of substantially planar segments.  
     
     
         32 . The tome of claim  31  wherein the blade having a shape comprising a plurality of substantially planar segments further comprises short radius curves connecting said plurality of substantially planar segments into a single piece.  
     
     
         34 . The tome of claim  33  wherein the blade configured to cut a first dovetail groove in a first vertebra and a second dovetail groove in a second vertebra simultaneously is replaced by an assembly of blades configured to cut a first dovetail groove in a first vertebra and a second dovetail groove in a second vertebra simultaneously.