Patent ID: 8262732

Claim:
A method of inserting an intervertebral prosthesis in an intervertebral space, the method comprising: providing an articulating intervertebral prosthesis including a prosthetic plate comprising two side surfaces, an outer peripheral plate edge between the two side surfaces, and an annular rim, the annular rim having an outer peripheral rim edge extending in an axial direction from one of the two side surfaces of the plate, wherein the rim edge is disposed radially inward of the plate edge; holding the prosthesis with a groove formed in the annular rim of the prosthetic plate; and manipulating the prosthesis with an instrument to place the prosthesis in the intervertebral space; wherein the groove facilitates manipulation and holding of the prosthesis while the prosthesis is placed in the intervertebral space and wherein the annular rim is disposed radially inward of the plate edge around the entire annular rim.