Patent ID: 6156040
Filing Date: 2000-12-05
Classification: A61B,A61F,Y10S

Abstract:
A surgical method for implanting a spinal fusion implant into a disc space separating a first vertebra and a second vertebra, said method comprising:inserting a distal end of a rigid centering guide into said disc space in a first orientation with said rigid centering guide extending along a longitudinal axis from said distal end to a proximal end exterior of said disc space and with said guide having a first external guide surface of predetermined geometry;rotating said rigid centering guide around said longitudinal axis to a second orientation to distract said first and second vertebra;placing an implement against said centering guide with said implement having an external guided surface shaped complementary to said first external guide surface for said first external guide surface and said guided surface to be nested with said guided surface sliding against said first guide surface along a path of travel parallel to said longitudinal axis;sliding said implement toward said vertebrae with said first guide surface and said guided surface maintaining movement of said implement along said path of travel.