Patent ID: 8226691

Claim:
A method of inserting a multi-piece spinal implant comprising: providing an insertion guide having: a channel defined by a first lateral wall extending along a first plane, and a second lateral wall extending along a second plane, each lateral wall having at least two slots thereon; and distal end walls extending along third and fourth planes, respectively, wherein the third and fourth planes are parallel to one another and perpendicular to the first and second planes; inserting at least a portion of the insertion guide into an intervertebral space between two vertebrae; placing each piece of the multi-piece spinal implant into the channel such that each implant piece engages at least one slot and the spinal implant pieces cooperate with one another; moving the spinal implant pieces through the channel and into the intervertebral space while maintaining the spinal implant pieces in cooperation with one another and allowing slight canting of the spinal implant pieces with respect to each other while in the channel; wherein said insertion guide further includes at least one extension for insertion into the intervertebral space; and wherein the at least one extension projects from the first lateral wall, and wherein the slots in the first lateral wall extend along the entire length of the first lateral wall and the extension.