Patent ID: 7160304
Filing Date: 2007-01-09
Classification: A61B,A61F

Abstract:
1. A method for performing surgery on a spinal segment including a disc space and two vertebral bodies adjacent the disc space of a human spine, said method comprising the steps of: forming a socket by removing bone from at least a portion of at least one of the adjacent vertebral bodies from within the disc space and between the external perimeters of the two adjacent vertebral bodies, the socket formed in the bone having an entrance, an abutment wall formed in the bone opposite the entrance, an axis of insertion through the entrance and the abutment wall, and a depth along the axis of insertion, the abutment wall having a height and a width, the socket having a surface formed in the bone from the abutment wall to the entrance and extending from the side to the side, the surface having a plurality of points in a horizontal plane that passes through the surface, the horizontal plane being parallel to the axis of insertion and being perpendicular to a vertical plane the vertical plane passing through and being parallel with the axis of insertion and passing through the adjacent vertebral bodies the abutment wall being in the shape of approximately one half of a circle from side to side in the horizontal plane; and inserting a spinal insert into the socket, the spinal insert having a leading end and a trailing end opposite the leading end, the leading end of the insert having an exterior configured to substantially correspond to the shape of the abutment wall of the socket.