Patent ID: 7226483

Claim:
A method for implanting an intervertebral implant into a disc space of a patient comprising: distracting adjacent vertebra; removing an inferior facet of the cranial vertebrae and a superior facet of the caudal vertebrae to create a transforaminal window from a posterior side of the patient's spine; removing substantially all of the disc material between the adjacent vertebra; removing the superficial layers of the vertebra endplates to expose bleeding bone; inserting and removing at least one trial fit spacer until a desired implant thickness is determined; inserting an implant into the intervertebral disc space via the transforaminal window; and guiding the implant through the transforaminal window into a desired position within the disc space wherein the implant has a curved, concave posterior face and a curved, convex anterior face, both curved posterior and anterior faces extending along a longitudinal axis of the implant; a pair of convex narrow ends separating the posterior and anterior faces; superior and inferior faces for contacting upper and lower vertebral endplates, the superior and inferior surfaces defining a thickness of the implant; and first and second non-threaded, horizontal channels configured and adapted for engagement by the insertion tool, the first channel disposed along at least a portion of the curved posterior face and the second channel disposed along at least a portion of the curved anterior face; wherein the superior and inferior faces are convex and include a plurality of undulating surfaces thereon.