Spinal fusion implant and related methods

1. A spinal fusion implant for insertion between first and second vertebral bodies, each vertebral body having a cancellous bone interior bounded by a cortical bone exterior wall, each vertebral body having a generously curved anterior portion and a slightly curved posterior portion, said posterior portion adjacent to a spinal canal, said spinal fusion implant comprising:

an article having opposing first and second engagement sides, opposing first and second lateral sides, a proximal end, a distal end, a width between said opposing first and second lateral sides, and a length between said proximal end and distal end, wherein the proximal end comprises an engagement recess with a keyed insertion slot that is asymmetric along at least one axis, the insertion slot comprising a locking recess and a locking wall, wherein the engagement recess is adapted to mate with a distal end of an insertion instrument such that the end of the engagement instrument has an asymmetric keyed lock that fits the keyed insertion slot and when rotated therein, the distal end of the engagement instrument abuts the locking wall and rests within the locking recess, thereby preventing the article and the insertion instrument from moving relative to one another.

2. The implant of claim 1 , wherein a cross sectional length of the distal end is greater than a cross section length at the proximal end.

3. The implant of claim 1 , wherein the width between the opposing first and second lateral sides varies along the length between the proximal end and the distal end.

4. The implant of claim 3 , wherein a height of one of the lateral sides differs from a height of the other associated lateral side during a portion of the length between the proximal end and the distal end.

5. The implant of claim 1 , wherein when the article is inserted obliquely, within a disc space, an effective height correction occurs generally parallel to a sagittal plane, thereby restoring optimal natural lordotic curvature of a spine.

6. The implant of claim 4 , wherein the differing heights of the lateral sides results in an oblique tapering of the device at an angle of 5 to 15 degrees.

7. The implant of claim 1 , wherein the first and second lateral sides are smooth and tapered to allow for eased insertion in an intervertebral position.

8. The implant of claim 1 , wherein the distal end has a conical distal nose section including a pair of first surfaces and a pair of second surfaces.

9. The implant of claim 8 , wherein the pair of first surfaces and the pair of second surfaces are tapered.

10. The implant of claim 9 , wherein the pair of first surfaces extend between the lateral sides and the distal end.

11. The implant of claim 10 , wherein one of the first surfaces has a greater curve between the lateral side and the distal end than the other first surface.

12. The implant of claim 1 , wherein the distal end is asymmetrically positioned relative to a central longitudinal axis running equidistant from the first and second lateral sides.

13. The implant of claim 1 , wherein the first and second engagement sides are tapered from the distal end to the proximal end.

14. The implant of claim 1 , wherein the first and second engagement sides are in a convex shape that is asymmetric between the distal end and proximal end.

15. The implant of claim 1 , wherein the first and second lateral sides are smooth and tapered to allow for eased insertion in an intervertebral position.

16. A spinal fusion implant for insertion between first and second vertebral bodies, said spinal fusion implant comprising:

an article having opposing first and second engagement sides, opposing first and second lateral sides which are smooth and tapered to allow for eased insertion in an intervertebral position, a proximal end, a distal end, a width between said opposing first and second lateral sides which varies along an axis between the proximal end and the distal end, wherein the proximal end comprises an engagement recess with a keyed insertion slot that is asymmetric along at least one axis, the insertion slot comprising a locking recess and a locking wall, wherein the engagement recess is adapted to mate with a distal end of an insertion instrument such that the end of the engagement instrument has an asymmetric keyed lock that fits the keyed insertion slot and when rotated therein, the distal end of the engagement instrument abuts the locking wall and rests within the locking recess, thereby preventing the article and the insertion instrument from moving relative to one another.

17. The implant of claim 16 , wherein the distal end has a conical distal nose section including a pair of first surfaces and a pair of second surfaces.

18. The implant of claim 17 , wherein the pair of first surfaces and the pair of second surfaces are tapered.

19. The implant of claim 18 , wherein the pair of first surfaces extend between the lateral sides and the distal end.

20. The implant of claim 19 , wherein one of the first surfaces has a greater curve between the lateral side and the distal end than the other first surface.

21. A spinal fusion implant for insertion between first and second vertebral bodies, each vertebral body having a cancellous bone interior bounded by a cortical bone exterior wall, each vertebral body having a generously curved anterior portion and a slightly curved posterior portion, said posterior portion adjacent to a spinal canal, said spinal fusion implant comprising:

an article having opposing first and second engagement sides, opposing first and second lateral sides, a proximal end, a distal end, a width between said opposing first and second lateral sides, and a length between said proximal end and distal end, wherein the proximal end comprises an engagement recess with a keyed insertion slot comprising a locking recess and a locking wall, wherein the engagement recess is adapted to mate with a distal end of an insertion instrument such that the end of the engagement instrument has a keyed lock that fits the keyed insertion slot and when rotated therein, the distal end of the engagement instrument abuts the locking wall and rests within the locking recess, thereby preventing the article and the insertion instrument from moving relative to one another; and

wherein the width between the opposing first and second lateral sides varies along the length between the proximal end and the distal end, wherein a height of one of the lateral sides differs from a height of the other associated lateral side during a portion of the length between the proximal end and the distal end, and wherein the differing heights of the lateral sides results in an oblique tapering of the device at an angle of 5 to 15 degrees.