Patent ID: 7879095

Claim:
A method of cushioning between an elongate implant positioned in a space from which a portion of an intervertebral disk has been removed and the vertebra adjacent the disk space, the implant having a substantially rectangular cross-sectional shape and a height greater than the width of the implant, comprising the steps of: inserting the implant into the intervertebral disk space with the sides of the implant defining the height of the implant in contact with the adjacent vertebra, the implant having an insert mounted thereto on a spring and movable relative to the implant, the insert being restrained against movement relative to the implant; rotating the implant along the longitudinal axis thereof so that the sides of the implant defining the width of the implant contact the adjacent vertebra; and releasing the insert so as to bias the insert away from the implant toward the adjacent vertebra with the spring.