Patent ID: 8147554

Claim:
An assembly for implant installation between adjacent vertebral bodies of a patient, comprising: an implant having a support body and a rotatable insert therein; the support body having a curved shape extending laterally from a proximal end portion to a distal end portion and configured and dimensioned for installation between adjacent vertebral bodies transforaminally, the distal end portion having a taper narrowing towards a distal most end; wherein the support body includes a superior surface and an inferior surface, wherein the superior surface and inferior surface include a plurality of protrusions to facilitate prevention of expulsion of the implant once installed, and wherein the support body defines a first longitudinal opening extending longitudinally therethrough from the superior surface to the inferior surface; wherein the support body defines a second longitudinal opening extending therethrough from the superior surface with protrusions to the inferior surface with protrusions and positioned in between the proximal end and the tapered distal portion to accommodate the rotatable insert therein and wherein the insert is cylindrical and is rotatable about a central longitudinal axis within the second longitudinal opening to permit the support body to rotate about the insert and the central longitudinal axis; and an installation instrument removably attached to the proximal end portion of the support body and engageable with the rotatable insert to selectively permit rotation between the insert and the support body, the installation instrument extending along a longitudinal tool axis, wherein when the installation instrument is in a first position the insert is rotationally fixed with respect to the support body and when the installation instrument is in a second position the support body may rotate with respect to the insert.