Patent ID: 8308803

Claim:
A method for inserting at least one interbody fusion device in a disc space comprising a single cavity between adjacent vertebrae, comprising: creating a working channel to the disc space by placing a cannula through the skin and tissue of a patient using a transforaminal approach to the disc space; preparing the disc space through the working channel for bi-lateral placement of the at least one interbody fusion device, wherein preparing the disc space includes inserting a chisel through the cannula and into the disc space, the chisel including upper and lower cutting edges to remove a portion of the vertebral endplates and a curved shaft defining a curvilinear cutting path, wherein preparing the disc space includes inserting the curved shaft of the chisel into the cannula and moving the upper and lower cutting edges along vertebral endplates to prepare a cavity extending bilaterally across the adjacent vertebrae to receive the at least one interbody fusion device; and inserting the at least one interbody fusion device into the disc space through the working channel so that the adjacent vertebrae are bi-laterally supported by the at least one interbody fusion device.