Patent ID: 8852193

Claim:
A system for replacing an intervertebral disc in an intervertebral space between a first vertebral body and a second vertebral body, the system comprising: an implant including a first end plate and a second end plate, the first end plate having a first retention member protruding from a first internally facing surface of the first end plate, and a first externally facing surface configured to engage the first vertebral body and being opposite to the first internally facing surface, the second end plate having a second retention member protruding from a second internally facing surface of the second end plate, and a second externally facing surface configured to engage the second vertebral body and being opposite to the second internally facing surface, the first retention member and the second retention member each extending and protruding so as to be positioned adjacent each other, the first retention member defining a first pocket and the second retention member defining a second pocket such that the first and second pockets are positioned adjacent each other and such that the second pocket is of a different size than the first pocket; and an intervertebral implant inserter, the implant inserter comprising a gripping mechanism movable between an open position and a closed position in which the implant inserter is configured to securely grip the implant, the gripping mechanism having a first arm and a second arm, wherein each of the first and second arms comprises a shaped engagement surface configured to mate with complementarily shaped mating surfaces on the first and second retention members protruding from the respective first and second end plates of the implant to securely grip the implant, the implant inserter further comprising a rod which engages the first and second arms, wherein the rod is actuable to pivot the first and second arms relative to one another between the open and closed positions, wherein the first and second arms each pivot about separate pivot axes, the implant inserter further comprising an intermediate structure positioned between the first and second arms, the intermediate structure having a keying feature having opposing sides shaped to correspond to and to be inserted into and engage with both the first and second pockets defined in the first and second retention members protruding from the first and second internally facing surfaces of the first and second end plates of the implant, wherein the keying feature is independent of the first and second arms, the intermediate structure further including a plurality of prongs extending distally from the intermediate structure, wherein when the implant is gripped by the gripping mechanism, the implant is sandwiched between the prongs and the prongs project over the externally facing surfaces of the implant; wherein the keying feature is configured to control a position of the implant mounted on the implant inserter such that the keying feature is sized to allow mounting of the implant on the implant inserter in only one position.