Patent ID: 7867238

Claim:
A method for inserting a spinal implant having at least in part upper and lower arcuate portions 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: contacting the adjacent vertebral bodies with a guard having a body with a distal end for bearing against 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 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 having opposed arcuate portions 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.