Patent ID: 8603175
Filing Date: 2013-12-10
Classification: A61F

Abstract:
1. A method of inserting and positioning a prosthetic intervertebral spacer in an intervertebral disc space between two adjacent vertebrae, the method comprising the steps of: providing a spacer including a body and an interface, the body having a front end, a rear end, top and bottom surfaces, and a longitudinal axis, the interface defining a rail having a neck portion connected to and extending away from the rear end of the body, the rail further having a lip portion connected to the neck portion, the lip portion being wider than the neck portion in a direction extending between the top and bottom surfaces; engaging a tool to the rail; inserting the spacer at least partially into the intervertebral disc space by moving the tool along an insertion direction; and allowing the spacer to rotate with respect to the insertion direction within the intervertebral disc space while continuing to move the tool along the insertion direction, wherein upper and lower arms of the tool slide along the rail during rotation of the spacer.