Rotating implant and associated instrumentation

1. A system for use during surgical procedures, the system comprising:

an implant having a faceted post that rotates, ribs adapted to receive impact from an instrument to help position the implant, and stops; and

an inserter having a sleeve, into and from which a hook retracts and extends and to which a tab is fixedly connected, and a pair of catches,

wherein the hook and tab combine to lock the post into position and to release the post so that the post can rotate, a direct engagement between the hook and the post and between the tab and the post permit rotation of the implant in situ, and the stops and catches define an articulation range for the implant relative to a longitudinal axis of the inserter.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the post is recessed within a slot of the implant.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the slot forms a step in the implant.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the post is configured to rotate about a vertical axis relative to the implant.

5. The system of claim 1 , where the ribs are separated by a series of columns.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein each of the ribs and columns has a flat surface, and wherein a junction between the rib and columns is angled.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the inserter has an actuator configured to manipulate the hook.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the hook has an inner surface shaped to correspond geometrically with the faceted post.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the tab has an inner surface shaped to correspond geometrically with the faceted post.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the implant includes a body having a top surface, a bottom surface, opposing lateral sides, and opposing anterior and posterior sides.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the post, ribs, and stops are located on the posterior side of the implant.

12. A system for use during surgical procedures, the system comprising:

an implant having a faceted post that rotates, ribs adapted to receive impact from an instrument to help position the implant, and stops; and

an inserter having a sleeve, into and from which a hook retracts and extends and to which a tab is fixedly connected, an actuator to manipulate the hook, and a pair of catches,

wherein the hook has an inner surface shaped to correspond geometrically with the faceted post,

wherein the tab has an inner surface shaped to correspond geometrically with the faceted post, and

wherein the hook and tab combine to lock the post into position and to release the post so that the post can rotate, the engagements between the hook and the post and between the tab and the post permit rotation of the implant in situ, and the stops and catches define an articulation range for the implant relative to a longitudinal axis of the inserter.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the post is recessed within a slot of the implant.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the slot forms a step in the implant.

15. The system of claim 12 , wherein the post is configured to rotate about a vertical axis relative to the implant.

16. The system of claim 12 , where the ribs are separated by a series of columns.

17. The system of claim 16 , wherein each of the ribs and columns has a flat surface, and wherein a junction between the rib and columns is angled.

18. A method for using a system including an implant and an inserter during a surgical procedure, after a spinal disc in need of repair or replacement is identified, at least a partial discectomy is performed to create a disc space, and the appropriate size of implant is gauged and selected for the disc space, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) coupling the implant to the inserter by manipulating an actuator of the inserter to extend a hook away from a sleeve and, using a handle of the inserter, manipulating the sleeve so that the hook engages a post of the implant, manipulating the actuator to retract the hook into the sleeve and translate the hook relative to a tab of the inserter until the post of the implant engages the tab, with full engagement between the hook and the post and between the tab and the post locking the post into the hook and the tab, preventing rotation of the post;

(b) grasping the handle of the inserter and inserting a tapered nose of the implant into the disc space created during the discectomy procedure until the tapered nose enters the disc space and begins to distract the adjacent vertebral bodies;

(c) optionally delivering impaction forces to one or both of a proximal end of the inserter and ribs of the implant to urge the implant at least partially into the disc space;

(d) manipulating the inserter and the implant sequentially to engage, release the tab from the post of, rotate, and re-engage the tab with the post of the implant to guide the implant along a path to a desired final position within the disc space;

(e) releasing the implant from the inserter by manipulating the handle and the actuator so that neither the hook nor the tab engage the post; and

(f) removing the inserter from the disc space.

19. The method according to claim 18 , the method further comprises the step of preventing toggling between the implant and the inserter.

20. The method according to claim 18 , the method further comprising the step of preventing over-rotation of the implant relative to the inserter.