Patent ID: 8454621

Claim:
A method for manipulating a spinal implant in a space between vertebrae, comprising: accessing a spinal implant positioned in the space between vertebrae through an opening into the space formed along a postero-lateral approach to the space, wherein the positioned spinal implant includes a wall with a first portion at a proximal side of the space closest to the opening and the wall of the positioned spinal implant includes a second portion at a distal side of the space opposite the proximal side; positioning a rotator through the opening to contact the second portion of the wall of the positioned spinal implant at the distal side of the space with a distal end of the rotator; moving the positioned spinal implant in the space to a desired orientation by pushing the second portion of the wall of the spinal implant at the distal side of the space with the distal end of the rotator; engaging the spinal implant with a hook member at a distal end of a hook instrument; pulling the spinal implant toward the opening into the space between the vertebrae; grasping the spinal implant with an engaging assembly of an extractor instrument; and removing the spinal implant from the space with the extractor instrument.