Patent ID: 7951154

Claim:
An instrument and implant assembly, comprising: an insertion instrument including: a proximal portion including a frame; a distal portion including first and second guide members mounted to and extending distally from said frame, said first and second guide members are each elongated in a direction extending along a first and an opposite second side thereof, said first and second sides extending between a proximal end and a distal end of said respective guide member, wherein said first sides are aligned with one another and said second sides are aligned with one another, each of said first and second guide members further including a guide surface extending between said proximal end and said distal end thereof, said first guide member including a guide flange on said first side of said first guide member with said guide flange on said first side projecting from said guide surface of said first guide member toward said second guide member and said second guide member includes a guide flange on said second side of said second guide member projecting from said guide surface of said second guide member toward said first guide member, wherein said first and second guide members include only one guide flange along said first and second sides thereof, respectively, so that said guide flanges are located on opposite sides of said first and second guide members; and a spinal implant including a first width transverse to an insertion direction along which said spinal implant is advanced between said first and second guide members toward vertebrae of a spinal column, wherein said guide surfaces of said first and second guide members each include a second width between said first and second sides thereof, said second width being greater than first width of said spinal implant so that said spinal implant is confined between said guide flanges of said first and second guide members.