Patent ID: 9662147
Date: 2017-05-30
CPC Classifications: A61B,A61F

Claim:
1. A method of treating a patient having a spinal pathology within a functional spinal unit (FSU) having an upper vertebra, a lower vertebra, and an intervertebral disc therebetween, the method comprising: damaging an anterior longitudinal ligament (ALL) of the patient, thereby increasing the range of motion of the FSU in extension, inserting an interbody device into a void between the upper and lower vertebrae, the interbody device comprising: a) an upper portion having an upper surface adapted for bearing against the upper vertebra and having teeth extending therefrom for gripping the upper vertebra, b) a lower portion having a lower surface adapted for bearing against the lower vertebra and having teeth extending therefrom for gripping the lower vertebra, and c) a wall connecting the upper and lower portions, wherein the upper and lower portions of the device are non-parallel.