Spinal fusion apparatus

An interbody spinal fusion cage configured to achieve lordosis when placed posteriorly, the interbody spinal fusion cage comprising:

• a superior member including an anterior end, a posterior end, a superior bearing surface extending between the anterior end of the superior member and the posterior end of the superior member, and a superior joint component between the anterior end of the superior member and the posterior end of the superior member;
• and
• an inferior member including an anterior end, a posterior end, an inferior bearing surface extending between the anterior end of the inferior member and the posterior end of the inferior member, and an inferior joint component between the anterior end of the inferior member and the posterior end of the inferior member,
• wherein the superior joint component is attached to the inferior joint component in a manner that allows the interbody spinal fusion cage to achieve lordosis even if implanted non-orthogonal to the sagittal plane,
• wherein the superior joint component comprises a first hinge component and the inferior joint component comprises a second hinge component,
• wherein the first and second hinge components together form a hinge having a single axis of rotation that is non-normal to a longitudinal axis of the interbody spinal fusion cage, and that is fixed with respect to translation along the longitudinal axis of the interbody spinal fusion cage, and
• wherein:
• the superior member includes first locking teeth proximate the posterior end of the superior member,
• the inferior member includes second locking teeth proximate the posterior end of the inferior member, and
• the first locking teeth are configured to engage the second locking teeth in a manner that prohibits the posterior end of the superior member from separating from the posterior end of the inferior member.

A method of performing a transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion, comprising:

• inserting, via a posterior approach, an interbody spinal fusion cage between two vertebrae, the interbody spinal fusion cage comprising:
• a superior member including an anterior end, a posterior end, and a superior bearing surface extending between the anterior end of the superior member and the posterior end of the superior member;
• an inferior member including an anterior end, a posterior end, and an inferior bearing surface extending between the anterior end of the inferior member and the posterior end of the inferior member;
• and
• a joint connecting the superior member to the inferior member in a manner that permits at least seesaw motion between the superior member and the inferior member about a single axis of rotation that is non-normal to a longitudinal axis of the interbody spinal fusion cage and that is fixed with respect to translation along the longitudinal axis of the interbody spinal fusion cage;
• and
• securing the posterior end of the superior member to the posterior end of the inferior member, using a ratchet lock, in a lordotic configuration.