Patent ID: 7942932

Claim:
A method of utilizing an implant sized for a surgical cavity created by surgical removal of a part of a spinal column during a spinal surgical procedure, wherein said implant is capable of being fitted between a superior side and an inferior side of said surgical cavity, said method comprising the steps of: a) supplying a span of consecutively joined receptacles comprising a plurality of peripheral openings a surgeon can see through prior to addition of osteogenic substances and into which said osteogenic substances can be packed before completion of said spinal surgical procedure, wherein said span of consecutively joined receptacles comprises: i) an inner divider, comprising: a short side; a long side opposite of said short side; a first converging side converging from a first corner of said long side to a first corner of said short side; a second converging side converging from a second corner of said long side to a second corner of said short side; and an aperture; ii) one or more first dividers extending in a first direction away from said inner divider; each one of first dividers comprising an opening aligned with said inner divider's aperture; iii) one or more second dividers extending in a second direction away from said inner divider; each one of said second dividers comprising an aperture aligned with said inner divider's aperture; iv) a first universal corner post contacting said first corners of said short sides of said dividers; v) a second universal corner post contacting said second corners of said short sides of said dividers; vi) one or more universal posts contacting said first converging sides of said dividers; and vii) one or more universal posts contacting said second converging sides of said dividers; b) measuring said surgical cavity; c) sizing said implant for a custom fit for said surgical cavity by severing said implant through at least one cross-section thereof; d) holding said custom fitted implant such that said short sides of said dividers face said surgical cavity; e) inserting said custom fitted implant into said surgical cavity, further comprising the steps of: i) positioning said short sides within said surgical cavity; ii) engaging said superior side of said surgical cavity with said custom fitted implant; and iii) engaging said inferior side of said surgical cavity with said custom fitted implant; and f) packing said custom fitted implant with osteogenic material after said custom fitted implant is inserted into said surgical cavity; or g) after insertion of said custom fitted implant into said surgical cavity, but prior to packing said custom fitted implant with osteogenic material, removing said custom fitted implant from said surgical cavity for packing said custom fitted implant with osteogenic material, and thereafter, reinserting said custom fitted implant packed with osteogenic material into said surgical cavity.