Patent ID: 7267689

Claim:
A kit for placing an implant into a disk space between opposing vertebrae having opposing end plates to be separated by a predetermined degree of lordosis, said kit comprising: (A) an implant having: a generally frusto-conical hollow body having: a leading end trailing end comprising: a trailing end rise a terminal end a longitudinal axis a first taper increasing from said leading end to said trailing end rise; and a second taper increasing from said terminal end to said terminal end rise said first taper of said frusto-conical body having a conical angle approximating said degree of lordosis; an implant thread pattern surrounding said body; openings formed through a conical wall of said body into an interior of said body with said openings formed at least on diametrically opposite sides of said body; (B) a tap having: a shaft defining a longitudinal axis; a tapping head at a distal end of said shaft, said tapping head having a tapping thread surrounding said axis with a thread pattern substantially matching said implant thread pattern; said tapping thread includes a plurality of peaks and valleys defining a conical path around said axis with a leading end tap diameter adjacent said distal end and with a trailing end tap diameter spaced from said distal end, said trailing end tap diameter being greater than said leading end tap diameter; said leading end tap diameter being substantially equal to said leading end implant diameter.