Patent ID: 8764806

Claim:
A method for stabilization of a spinal segment having a first vertebral bone, a second vertebral bone, and an intervening intervertebral disc space, comprising: approaching a posterior aspect of said intervertebral disc space; creating an opening in a posterior aspect of an annulus fibrosis of said intervertebral disc space; advancing an anterior surface of an orthopedic implant through said opening in said annulus fibrosis; and advancing a remainder of said orthopedic implant into said intervertebral disc space, said orthopedic implant following a circular trajectory that is centered at an axis of rotation positioned outside of said orthopedic implant; wherein said orthopedic implant is configured to extend from said anterior surface to a posterior surface along an at least partially curvilinear axis, and comprises a first side surface and an opposing side surface, each configured to comprise a curvilinear segment that extends from said anterior to said posterior surfaces along a curvilinear trajectory and has a center of curvature positioned outside of said implant, said axis of rotation and said center of curvature of said implant being located on a same side of said implant.