Patent ID: 8906099

Claim:
A method of fusing two adjacent vertebrae bodies, each of said adjacent vertebrae bodies having a cortical rim and an endplate with an annulus and a disc space between said adjacent vertebrae bodies, said disc space having an interior within said annulus and further having disc material within the interior of the disc space, said method comprising instructing a surgeon to perform the following steps: a. make an incision in said annulus at a desired level to access the disc space between the adjacent vertebrae bodies, where at least a portion of said incision is in a posterior lateral quadrant of said annulus and where said incision is of a sufficient length so as to accommodate the insertion of endoscopic instrumentation into said disc space so as to enable viewing of the interior of the disc space and so as to permit the insertion of surgical instrumentation into said disc space for performing discectomy of the disc space and for preparing the endplates of said vertebrae bodies; b. perform a discectomy of the disc material within the disc space; c. prepare the endplates of said adjacent vertebrae bodies; d. form an opening in an anterior contralateral side of said annulus; e. distract said disc space; f. insert an implant into said disc space via said incision such that said implant extends across said vertebrae bodies with said implant being at least in part supported by said cortical rim and maintaining distraction of said disc space; and g. insert bone graft material in said disc space so as to promote fusing of said adjacent vertebrae bodies.