Patent ID: RE42863

Claim:
A surgical method for implanting at least two spinal fusion implants into a disc space of disc material separating a first and second vertebrae, said disc space and first and second vertebrae divisible into first and second sides separated by a sagittal plane, said method comprising the steps of: (a) inserting a first rigid distraction spacer into said a non-distracted disc space at a desired first implant location on said first side with said first distraction spacer sized for external surfaces of said first distraction spacer to act against first and second end plates of said first and second vertebrae, respectively, to urge said first and second vertebrae apart upon said insertion, thereby distracting said first and second vertebrae, said spacer fully inserted for said spacer so as to be completely recessed within said disc space so as not to substantially protrude beyond said space within the perimeter of said first and second end plates ; (b) placing a guide at said second side while maintaining distraction at said first implant location with said distraction spacer and with said guide adapted to direct tools axially through an axis parallel to and equidistant between opposing end plates of said first and second vertebrae; (c) forming a second implant bore at a desired second implant location by removing bone material from said first and second vertebrae and by removing disc material at said second implant location with said second implant bore sized to receive said second implant, said forming of said second bore utilizing at least a first boring tool guided by said guide; (d) implanting said second implant into said second implant bore; (e) removing said first distraction spacer and applying a guide to said first side; (f) forming a first implant bore at said desired first location by removing bone material from said first and second vertebrae and by removing disc material at said first implant location with said first bore sized to receive said first implant, said forming of said first bore utilizing at least a first boring tool guided by said guide at said first side; and (g) implanting said first implant into said first implant bore.