Patent ID: 7776095
Filing Date: 2010-08-17
Classification: A61F

Abstract:
1. A method of surgically placing an implant between upper and lower vertebral bodies from a generally lateral surgical approach comprising the acts of: positioning a patient such that an operative side of the patient is accessible; making an incision in the operative side of the patient between the ribcage and the iliac crest of the patient; locating an initial insertion dilator between the vertebral bodies; dilating tissue with a first concentric dilator that fits over the initial insertion dilator to further open the incision; removing vertebral disc material to create an opening for the implant between the vertebral bodies; inserting a trial instrument having a trial body into a disc space from a generally lateral surgical approach between upper and lower vertebral endplates of the vertebral bodies; and inserting an implant into the disc space from the generally lateral surgical approach between the upper and lower vertebral endplates of the vertebral bodies, the implant comprising: wherein the anterior sidewall of the implant includes a maximally anterior implant surface, a first curved implant surface extending between the leading end portion and the maximally anterior implant surface, and a second curved implant surface extending between the trailing end portion and the maximally anterior implant surface; and wherein the act of inserting the implant into the disc space from the generally lateral surgical approach includes placing the implant within an anterior region of the disc space such that the first curved implant surface and the second curved implant surface are substantially located between an anterior cortical rim of the upper vertebral endplate and an anterior cortical rim of the lower vertebral endplate.