Patent ID: 8545568

Claim:
A method of using an interbody spinal implant by implanting the spinal implant into a patient in need of the spinal implant, the method comprising: (a) accessing the disc space of the patient; (b) locating the center of the disc space; (c) incising the disc space by making a window in the annulus of the disc space for insertion of the spinal implant; (d) cleaning the endplates of all cartilage and removing the disc structure which is encapsulated by the annulus while preserving the endplate structure of the vertebrae; (e) optionally selecting a size-specific rasp and clearing the disc space of all soft tissue and cartilage; (f) optionally distracting the disc space by sequentially expanding it with distractors progressively increasing heights; (g) selecting a spinal implant having a pre-determined size sufficient to balance frictional fit and elongation of the annulus, the spinal implant having a top surface, a bottom surface, opposing lateral sides, and opposing anterior and posterior portions defining a substantially hollow center and a single vertical aperture, the single vertical aperture (i) extending from the top surface to the bottom surface, (ii) having a size and shape predetermined to maximize the surface area of the top surface and the bottom surface available proximate the anterior and posterior portions while maximizing both radiographic visualization and access to the substantially hollow center, (iii) defining a transverse rim with a varying thickness, and (iv) having a maximum width at its center, between the opposing lateral sides, and tapering inwardly from the center to each of its ends, one end proximate the anterior portion and the other end proximate the posterior portion, the spinal implant having a roughened surface topography, without teeth, on at least a portion of the top surface, the bottom surface, or both the top and bottom surfaces; the spinal implant having generally rounded and blunt intersections defined along the entire lengths between the top surface and the posterior portion, the bottom surface and the posterior portion, the top surface and the lateral sides, and the bottom surface and the lateral sides; and the spinal implant having at least one sharp edge between the top and bottom surfaces and the anterior portion; and (h) seating the spinal implant in the disc space such that the generally rounded and blunt intersections facilitate easier insertion into the disc space, the roughened surface topography grips the adjacent bone and inhibits migration of the implant, and the sharp edge provides secure seating and resists removal of the implant.