Patent ID: 8679184

Claim:
A method of implanting a spinal interbody fusion implant between two vertebrae of a spine, the method comprising inserting the implant into a patient through a posterior incision and guiding the implant into a position between the two vertebrae using a pair of shims, the implant being between the shims and the shims being between the vertebrae as the implant is guided into place, the pair of shims being connected to each other via a connector member, each of the shims having a proximal longitudinal end that is pivotally connected to the connector member about two mutually perpendicular axes and is pivotally fixed relative to the connector member about a third mutually perpendicular axis, each of the shims having a distal longitudinal end that has an L-shaped transverse cross-section, the step of guiding the implant into a position between the two vertebrae comprising: initially positioning the distal longitudinal ends of the shims in a manner such that the L-shaped transverse cross-sections are positioned between the two vertebrae and together define a small rectangular passageway that is too small for the implant to pass through; and thereafter spreading the distal longitudinal ends of the shims horizontally and vertically apart from each other in a manner such that the L-shaped transverse cross-sections together define a larger rectangular passageway through which the implant can pass.