A minimally invasive intervertebral implant, comprising: a circuitous body defining a luminal axis extending longitudinally therethrough; a proximal end and a distal end oppositely disposed along a lateral axis of the circuitous body; and wherein the circuitous body includes a first configuration wherein the proximal and distal ends are at a maximum separation; and a second configuration wherein the proximal and distal ends are closer together than in the first configuration; wherein the circuitous body is configured to transition from the first configuration to the second configuration by applying a lateral compression force between the proximal and distal ends when placed between vertebrae; wherein longitudinally facing surfaces of the circuitous body are adapted to face a bone surface at an implantation site when the circuitous body transitions from the first configuration to the second configuration, wherein when introduced at the implantation site the longitudinally facing surfaces of the circuitous body do not face the bone surface, and subsequent to introduction, the circuitous body is configured to rotate by about 90 degrees so that the longitudinally facing surfaces face the bone surface, wherein the circuitous body comprises segments linked by living hinges that elastically or plastically deform in the transition from the first configuration to the second configuration, and one of the living hinges includes a locking mechanism configured to maintain the circuitous body in the second configuration subsequent to the transition thereto, and characterized in that, the proximal end includes a pair of proximally extending slots oppositely disposed in exterior surfaces thereof, wherein the slots are adapted to accommodate prongs of an implantation tool. a circuitous body defining a luminal axis extending longitudinally therethrough; a proximal end and a distal end oppositely disposed along a lateral axis of the circuitous body; and wherein the circuitous body includes a first configuration wherein the proximal and distal ends are at a maximum separation; and a second configuration wherein the proximal and distal ends are closer together than in the first configuration; wherein the circuitous body is configured to transition from the first configuration to the second configuration by applying a lateral compression force between the proximal and distal ends when placed between vertebrae; wherein longitudinally facing surfaces of the circuitous body are adapted to face a bone surface at an implantation site when the circuitous body transitions from the first configuration to the second configuration, wherein when introduced at the implantation site the longitudinally facing surfaces of the circuitous body do not face the bone surface, and subsequent to introduction, the circuitous body is configured to rotate by about 90 degrees so that the longitudinally facing surfaces face the bone surface, wherein the circuitous body comprises segments linked by living hinges that elastically or plastically deform in the transition from the first configuration to the second configuration, and one of the living hinges includes a locking mechanism configured to maintain the circuitous body in the second configuration subsequent to the transition thereto, and characterized in that, the proximal end includes a pair of proximally extending slots oppositely disposed in exterior surfaces thereof, wherein the slots are adapted to accommodate prongs of an implantation tool. a first configuration wherein the proximal and distal ends are at a maximum separation; and a second configuration wherein the proximal and distal ends are closer together than in the first configuration; wherein the circuitous body is configured to transition from the first configuration to the second configuration by applying a lateral compression force between the proximal and distal ends when placed between vertebrae; wherein longitudinally facing surfaces of the circuitous body are adapted to face a bone surface at an implantation site when the circuitous body transitions from the first configuration to the second configuration, wherein when introduced at the implantation site the longitudinally facing surfaces of the circuitous body do not face the bone surface, and subsequent to introduction, the circuitous body is configured to rotate by about 90 degrees so that the longitudinally facing surfaces face the bone surface, wherein the circuitous body comprises segments linked by living hinges that elastically or plastically deform in the transition from the first configuration to the second configuration, and one of the living hinges includes a locking mechanism configured to maintain the circuitous body in the second configuration subsequent to the transition thereto, and characterized in that, the proximal end includes a pair of proximally extending slots oppositely disposed in exterior surfaces thereof, wherein the slots are adapted to accommodate prongs of an implantation tool.