Patent ID: 9445913
Filing Date: 2016-09-20
CPC Classification: A61B,A61F

Claim Text:
1. A method for fixing an intervertebral implant in an intervertebral space defined between an upper vertebral body and a lower vertebral body, the method comprising the steps of: inserting the intervertebral implant into the intervertebral space, the intervertebral implant including a spacer body and a fixation plate coupled to the spacer body, the fixation plate defining a plurality of guide apertures extending therethrough; and inserting a plurality of curved bone fixation members into respective ones of the plurality of guide apertures such that at least one curved bone fixation member of the plurality of curved bone fixation members is rotationally fixed in a respective at least one of the plurality of guide apertures as the at least one curved bone fixation member is inserted into engagement with at least one of the upper and lower vertebral bodies such that, the plurality of curved bone fixation members fix the intervertebral implant to the at least one of the upper and lower vertebral bodies; wherein the inserting step includes guiding the at least one curved bone fixation member along an insertion trajectory through the at least one of the upper and lower vertebral bodies via a guidance member disposed at least partially along a distal end of the at least one curved bone fixation member, the guidance member including a keel, a first wing disposed adjacent the keel, and a second wing adjacent the keel opposite the first wing, where the keel and the first and second wings guide the at least one curved bone fixation member along the insertion trajectory.