Patent ID: 8591553

Claim:
A method of implanting an implant, the method comprising: providing a spinal prosthetic fusion device sized and shaped to be positioned within a disc space between a first vertebra and a second vertebra, the spinal prosthetic fusion device having a first support plate for engaging the first vertebra and a second support plate for engaging the second vertebra, the first and second support plates being in a fixed relationship with respect to one another, wherein a first keel configured to engage a first slot in the first vertebra extends laterally across the first support plate and wherein a second keel configured to engage a second slot in the second vertebra extends laterally across the second support plate; forming the first slot in the first vertebra such that the first slot extends laterally between and through opposite ends of the first vertebra; forming the second slot in the second vertebra such that the second slot extends laterally between and through opposite ends of the second vertebra; introducing the spinal prosthetic fusion device into the disc space from a lateral approach such that the first keel engages the first slot and the second keel engages the second slot.