Patent ID: 7909871

Claim:
A method for placement of an orthopedic implant between a sacrum of a vertebral column and a vertebral bone that is immediately superior to the sacrum, comprising: penetrating a posterior bone surface of the sacrum at an area of bone surface penetration that is bounded superiorly by at least a portion of a sacral facet joint, and bounded inferiorly by at least a portion of a first posterior sacral foramen; forming a first pathway from the area of bone penetration on the posterior surface of the sacrum, through at least one sacral pedicle, and through at least a segment of a first sacral vertebral body; advancing the first pathway through at least a segment of a disc space that is immediately superior to the sacrum, wherein the pathway further extends to abut at least a segment of an inferior surface of the vertebral bone that is immediately superior to the sacrum; advancing the orthopedic implant through the area of bone penetration on the posterior surface of the sacrum, wherein the implant extends along a first axis from a proximal end to a distal end, and wherein at least a segment of the implant extends along the first axis in a non-linear trajectory; positioning the orthopedic implant at least partially within the first pathway, wherein at least a segment of the implant and bone forming material rests within the disc space that is immediately superior to the sacrum.