Patent ID: 8372079

Claim:
A method for inserting a spinal implant at least in part within and across the generally restored height of a disc space between two adjacent vertebral bodies of a human spine, the method comprising the steps of: positioning a guard having a body with a distal end proximate the adjacent vertebral bodies, the guard providing a protected pathway to the disc space and the adjacent vertebral bodies, the guard having a first portion oriented toward one of the adjacent vertebral bodies and a second portion oriented toward another of the adjacent vertebral bodies, the first and second portions being rotatably articulating relative to one another about a pivot having an axis passing through the protected pathway to move between an open position and a closed position; rotatably articulating the guard to move the body between the closed and open positions; forming, through the guard, an implantation space across the height of the disc space and into at least a portion of the endplates of the adjacent vertebral bodies; and inserting the implant through the guard and into the implantation space.